Magnus Carlsen’s Wife Ella Shares Insights on India’s Chess Prodigies: “Arjun is sweet… but over the board, he’s a maniac”
India’s golden generation of chess continues to win admiration across the globe—not just from fans but from legends of the sport. Now, Ella Carlsen, wife of World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, has shared heartfelt and humorous insights into what the Norwegian champion thinks of Indian chess prodigies Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi.
During a ChessBase India livestream from the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, Ella opened up about her experiences with India’s top talents.
🧠 Who Plays Most Like Magnus?
According to Ella, among the trio, it is Praggnanandhaa who Magnus believes plays most similarly to his own aggressive and calculated style.
“All three (Gukesh, Pragg, and Arjun) are very different,” Ella said. “But Magnus did say that Pragg plays the most like him.”
Magnus’s admiration for Pragg dates back to the 2023 FIDE World Cup, where the Indian teen reached the final, defeating names like Arjun, Nakamura, and Caruana before falling to Carlsen.
💬 Arjun: Sweet in Person, Fierce at the Board
Ella recalled a charming video clip where Arjun shared that his biggest childhood fear was “ghosts,” calling it “very cute.” But she contrasted that with his fierce persona during games:
“Arjun is very sweet when you talk to him. But over the board, he’s just a maniac—out there hunting and going crazy,” she said, echoing Magnus’s own words from a 2024 interview.
Carlsen had previously described Arjun as “a complete madman at the board,” highlighting his ambitious playstyle, aggressive preparation, and killer instinct in every game.
👨👦 Bonding with Gukesh & His Father
Ella also spoke warmly about her first meeting with Gukesh and his father Rajinikanth at Weissenhaus. She recalled how she and Magnus offered a ride to ChessBase India’s Sagar Shah and the Gukesh family on their way to dinner.
“They were very sweet,” she said of the encounter.
Magnus, too, has expressed respect for Gukesh in the past, especially after observing how RB Ramesh, Gukesh’s coach, used “Be like Pragg” as a motto to inspire kids at Carlsen’s chess club Offerspill in Norway.
🏁 Final Thoughts
The camaraderie and admiration that Ella and Magnus Carlsen share for India’s rising chess stars reflect the growing stature of India’s new chess era. As young players like Pragg, Arjun, and Gukesh continue to shine on the global stage, they are not just making fans—but winning over legends.
