– Fischer’s chess looked so heavy that he made the types of mistakes he would not have made, Henrik Carlsen told NRK.

Son Magnus won his group, but ran into a lot of trouble on his way. Also in the semifinals on Saturday, the road gradually became quite bumpy – and ended with a brutal exit.

In the second game, he got the better of his opponent Jan Nepomnjashchij, but squandered the lead and then went on a rampage that ultimately ended in defeat.

That adds to a series of errors Carlsen in Iceland.

Twice before in Reykjavík he’d messed up – including with the money expert Torstein Bae described as “the worst in ten years”.

Henrik Carlsen’s father saw the tired fisher’s chess trend.

– Against Wesley So three years ago and twice here he counted combinations and made moves in the wrong order. Very rare for Magnus. He has done it twice and it has had consequences, says Henrik Carlsen.

Carlsen at his own game: – Very bad

The world number one slumped after the loss in the semifinals. The big favorite won the first match, but then suffered three straight defeats against Nepomnyashchij.

Thus the dream of a new world title was dashed for the chess set.

Instead of playing in the final against Hikaru Nakamura, he should play in the bronze final against Nodirbek Abdusattorov on Sunday night.

The Norwegian showed after the loss that there are two different styles that meet on the board in the semifinals.

– He plays fast and tactically. This is very frustrating. I was obviously the best in four out of four games – but I couldn’t get much more than that, said Carlsen and continued:

– I don’t have the time or shape to play the chess I want to play. That’s also one of the reasons why I recommend that you play tournaments with a longer reflection time in fischer chess and a little shorter in regular chess.

Nepo was very impressed

It was of course the bubbly Russian who met NRK after the semifinals.

– This is probably the first day I’m not ashamed of my game, so it’s a step in the right direction. The first part was very up and down, Nepo told NRK.

– It was important for me to fight back after the first match, and winning three matches in a row is great.

Carlsen describes the loss as “very frustrating”. He was clear that he should have done much better against Russia.

– I saw how he played today and how he played in the opening. There are players who have big holes in his game, but also some big strengths that he has managed to capitalize on. It’s one I usually have to beat and then it’s frustrating not to get anywhere near what I could have done today. Then I’d rather get… Yes. Try sharpening it tomorrow, there must be something to play, said Carlsen.

Nakamura can claim his first World Championship title

While the star from Lommedalen must now battle for the bronze medal, Hikaru Nakamura can claim his first world title with a win over Jan Nepomnjashchij.

The American veteran showed strength and gave 18-year-old Abdusattorov no chance in the semifinals.

Abdusattorov, like Nakamura, is unbeaten through the base game.

– I’m just trying to play chess and have fun. I don’t care if I become world champion, finals-ready Nakamura told NRK.