Wonderboy (Agdestein)

How Magnus Carlsen became the Youngest Grandmaster in the World

The Story and the Games
by Simen Agdestein
New In Chess

ISBN: 978-1-927179-12-3

US $12.99

Previously published as Wonderboy Magnus Carlsen. Updated with a new Preface by the author. Note: the update is available free to those who have already purchased the book.

At the age of thirteen years, four months and twenty-six days, Magnus Carlsen became the youngest chess grandmaster in the world. The scene of this stunning record: Dubai. The date: April 26, 2004. Predictably, the international press raved about the Norwegian prodigy. The Washington Post even dubbed him 'the Mozart of chess.'

How Magnus Carlsen became the Youngest Grandmaster in the World is the fairy-tale-like story of Magnus Carlsen's rise and the story-teller could not have been better qualified. For the past four years Simen Agdestein had trained Magnus, repeatedly pinching himself in amazement at his pupil's lightning progress.

GM Simen Agdestein: a most remarkable double talent. Not only did he win the Norwegian national chess championship six times, but he also used to be a highly gifted football player. He played for Lyn FC in Oslo and represented the Norwegian national soccer team on eight occasions. These days Agdestein teaches chess at the NTG, the Norwegian College for Top Athletes.

While you follow Magnus on his fabulous journey, Agdestein is your guide telling you about the Carlsen family life and explaining the secrets of Magnus' play in clear and instructive comments. Any chess player could hardly pick up a more inspiring book. How Magnus Carlsen became the Youngest Grandmaster in the World will fascinate parents and help gifted children to realise their full potential.

About the book

This book was previously published as Wonderboy by New in Chess, ISBN 978-90-5691-131-7. The original paperback has 190 pages. In the e+Books edition, you can play through all the material on the live board. Navigate the Contents by chapter. Games are indexed by player (White or Black). Most of the many photos, black & white in the book, have been replaced with full colour images.