The news portal TV2
Nyhetene reports that Magnus himself would not speak to the media on Wednesday,
but his father confirmed to TV2 Nyhetene that his son would withdraw. "The
schedule was too tight," said Henrik Carlsen. "In consultation with
his coach he has chosen rest and preparation before the Tal Memorial in Moscow
in November. He played very energy intensive chess in the Nanjing Pearl Spring
tournament in China. That was a change from earlier."
Henrik Carlsen makes no secret of the fact that it was a difficult decision
to drop the European Team Championships. "Yes, it would be good for him
socially, but too hectic," he said. His son had made the decision fairly
recently – after his return from China.
Magnus' teammate GM Leif Erlend Johannessen said is was a shame that Carlsen
will not be on the team. "He would have been a great inspiration for the
whole team, and I understood that he originally agreed to participate as much
because of the social element of playing on a team with good mates. At the same
time, I accept the decision, which I understand has been taken in consultation
with his coach. It was was not good for us, but I understand the decision. China
was a huge effort. Kasparov probably decided that the wisest thing to do was
to spend time before Tal Memorial to rest. In Moscow Magnus will meet the world's
elite."
Just eight days before the European Team Championships in Serbia, the organisers
received the message that the Norwegian chess star Magnus Carlsen has withdrawn.
This was confirmed to Nettavisen
by the Norwegian Chess Federation. The 18-year-old has just returned from a
super performance in China, where he beat, among others, world's number one
Veselin Topalov.
Nobody knows what will become of the decimated Norwegian team, which consists
of GM Jon Ludvig Hammer, GM Leif Erlend Johannessen, IM Frode Elsness, FM Joachim
Thomassen and coach GM Peter Heine Nielsen (DEN). They were one of the top ten
favourites at the European Team Championship, but now they lack their main man.
They are not allowed to put in a substitute, and probably have to play as round
one with three players, as Johannessen will arrive late in Serbia. "This
is a awkward position. It's unclear if we are able to participate properly,"
said project manager Hans Krogh Harestad at the Norwegian Chess Federation to
Nettavisen. Incidentally, Magnus Carlsen has offered to pay the expenses the
Federation may have incurred due to his late withdrawal.
