Abdusattorov hopes to benefit from Carlsen collaboration

BUDAPEST Before arriving in Budapest as rivals, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Magnus Carlsen spent part of October working together in Spain. For the 22-year-old Uzbek, it was an opportunity to exchange ideas with the World No. 1, and the beginning of a collaboration he hopes will continue. “I think it’s a very uncommon thing among top players to work with each other.

But I was very happy to join the camp with Magnus. We played a lot of training games, and we shared ideas, our visions for chess,” Abdusattorov told The Hindu on the sidelines of Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot here. The arrangement followed a conversation with Carlsen’s long-time coach, Peter Heine Nielsen. Abdusattorov had expressed interest in training with the Norwegian, who subsequently invited him during an e-sports event.

Still considering himself an improving player, Abdusattorov hopes the exchange will help his results. The Total Chess pilot’s strong field, new format, and opportunity to earn FIDE Circuit points towards Candidates qualification appealed to him.