What Is Magnus Carlsen’s IQ Score? The Genius Grandmaster

Which chess player has the highest IQ? Magnus Carlsen’s IQ has been the subject of many discussions, attracting attention from both fans and experts. And that’s not surprising—the Norwegian grandmaster has been called a genius and “the Mozart of Chess” ever since he demonstrated his incredible talent as a 13-year-old.

So, we did a deeper dive into Magnus Carlsen’s personal and professional life to uncover his actual IQ score and explore whether he’s truly a genius. Read on to learn more about his remarkable career and mind-blowing accomplishments.

What Is Magnus Carlsen’s IQ?

Although experts and fans alike frequently speculate on Magnus Carlsen’s IQ, he’s never officially disclosed a score or publicly taken an IQ test. As far as we know, he hasn’t shown any interest in his own IQ either; instead, he basically lets his achievements speak for themselves.

And they sure have a story to tell. Considering everything Magnus Carlsen has accomplished, there can be no doubt that he is a genius. In fact, he’s dubbed by many as the smartest man alive and is reported to have an exceptionally rare IQ of 190.

Of course, it’s impossible to tell whether that estimate is accurate or not. But if it is, Carlsen would rank as possibly the smartest chess player in history, a title that is difficult to earn in a community full of brilliant minds.

Just for comparison, his late colleague Bobby Fischer’s IQ is said to have been 180—a ridiculously high number yet still lower than Carlsen’s. And Fischer is, without a doubt, one of the most gifted grandmasters to have ever lived.

Magnus Carlsen Early Life & Education

Not only is Magnus Carlsen potentially the most intelligent man alive now, but he was also gifted as a child. Born in 1990 to a chemical engineer and an IT specialist, Magnus showed interest in intellectual challenges even as a toddler, solving a 500-piece puzzle when he was just two years old.

Noticing his son’s intelligence, his father, an amateur chess player, introduced five-year-old Magnus to his favorite game. The boy didn’t find it particularly engaging at the time and likely never would have if he hadn’t decided to defeat his older sister in chess.

Once he took a serious interest in the game, it changed his life. He spent hours playing on his own, replicating what his father taught him and coming up with new strategies.

Aside from his clear affinity for chess and puzzles, Magnus had exceptional memory as a child. By the age of five, he could recognize flags and name the capitals and populations of every country in the world. And his memory only kept developing from there, giving him a serious edge in chess tournaments.

But despite his genius, Magnus Carlsen showed little interest in school. In fact, since his chess career took off when he was only 13 years old, he reportedly dropped out of high school after two years to focus on his true passion. He never attempted to finish his formal education or pursue a college degree, opting for self-study instead.

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Magnus Carlsen's Career & Accomplishments

Magnus’ first chess tournament was the Norwegian Chess Championship in 1999, when he wasn’t even nine yet. Five years later, in 2004, he won the Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. That same year, he was pronounced a chess grandmaster, becoming the second youngest person with that title in history.

After that, it was clear where his path would take him. He played tournament after tournament, improving his rating until the FIDE world rankings placed him at number 1 in 2010. Until today, he’s retained his first place, setting in 2014 an all-time high rating of 2882.

In addition, Magnus Carlsen became the first player to hold three of the greatest chess titles simultaneously. He became World Chess Champion in 2013 and, a year later, won both the World Blitz Championship and the World Rapid Championship. As if that’s not enough, he’s managed to repeat this success twice more: in 2019 and 2022.

Nowadays, Magnus Carlsen’s net worth of approximately $50 million is still mostly the result of his success in chess. However, he’s also undertaken a few other endeavors, such as acting as a global ambassador for the gambling company Unibet and for Chess.com. Moreover, he appeared as a guest star on The Simpsons, playing himself.

Is a High IQ Solely Responsible for Magnus’ Success?

Chess pieces

It’s no secret that a high IQ and a successful chess career are closely related. There are, of course, exceptions, such as American grandmaster Nakamura Hikaru’s IQ, which is reportedly average with a score of 102. Still, for the most part, individuals with high IQs are naturally drawn to chess, which then boosts their IQ further.

But can Magnus Carlsen’s incredible correlation with success in chess be explained only by his IQ? To some extent, yes—no doubt he had a natural gift for solving puzzles and engaging in intellectual challenges. The fact that he started so young and practically taught himself only confirms this theory.

For more on how chess could impact IQ, check out our article: Can Chess Increase IQ?

However, Magnus Carlsen’s IQ could only take him so far. A large part of his success is his willingness to practice and his confidence that he has what it takes to win. Without these two aspects of his personality, even an IQ of over 200 wouldn’t be of much use.

Moreover, he’s known to have an almost photographic memory, a trait that often goes hand in hand with a high IQ, but not always. This allows him to remember and analyze most of his games with perfect accuracy while looking for ways to improve.

Magnus Carlsen’s IQ Controversy

Magnus Carlsen’s IQ score is subject to much debate, particularly because there are no official records of him ever taking a test. As a result, opinions vary, with some claiming his IQ can’t be higher than 145 and others stating it’s over 200.

And, as things stand, there likely won’t be a resolution to this discussion. When asked about his IQ, Magnus Carlsen showed no interest in taking a test. In fact, he explicitly stated he wouldn’t like to know his score, as it might turn out to be a nasty surprise.

He also rejected the notion that he was a genius, saying that such words shouldn’t be used so generously.

However, the chess community unanimously agrees that Carlsen is a genius, whether he admits it or not. In fact, after losing to him in the 2013 World Chess Championship, Viswanathan Anand claimed that playing against Magnus Carlsen was like playing against a human computer. In other words, his calculating ability is beyond anything a regular brain can do.

Key Takeaways

Whether he is the smartest man alive or not, Magnus Carlsen has achieved remarkable feats and set chess records that likely won’t be beaten any time soon. Regardless of his IQ, he will be remembered in the chess community and beyond long after he finishes his career.

Speaking of his career, let’s not forget that he is still in his thirties. Although he’s accomplished so much, there’s plenty of time to take his chess expertise even further. Who knows what heights someone with his intelligence can reach?

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