Magnus Carlsen: A Golden Title and a Wedding in the Same Week

Norwegian chess phenomenon Magnus Carlsen has proven that he’s at the top not only in the royal game but also in his personal life. He ended the year in New York by winning his eighth World Blitz Championship title, only to shock fans immediately afterward with another announcement: this weekend he will marry his long-time partner, 26-year-old Ella Victoria Malone. The wedding ceremony will take place in a small circle of family and close friends at a secret location that the couple is understandably keeping under wraps.

Let’s start with the unusual conclusion of the Blitz Championship. In the final against Ian Nepomniachtchi, after a series of repeated draws, Magnus surprised fans and experts alike by proposing to share the title with his opponent. Surprisingly, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) agreed, confirming Carlsen’s status as a “gentleman of the chess game,” but also sparking considerable controversy: while some see it as the pinnacle of fair play, others regard it as undermining long-standing traditions.

This turn of events has also put Carlsen’s fiancée, Ella Victoria Malone, in the spotlight. Fans first noticed her a year ago when she accompanied Magnus to the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge, smiling by his side under the camera lights. She comes from a Norwegian-American family and spent her childhood in Singapore, where she was reportedly enchanted by the multicultural atmosphere and developed a passion for travel. Since then, Ella has become Magnus’s indispensable support—she has appeared at all the major tournaments, including the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Oslo and the recent World Rapid and Blitz Championships.

Carlsen himself admitted to Norwegian television station TV 2 that Ella’s presence gives him peace and confidence, especially at times when things aren’t going well at the board: “It’s fantastic to have someone by your side who believes in you and understands your passion. That’s exactly what Ella does,” said the smiling champion.

Some time ago, Magnus considered leaving Norway to protect his family’s privacy: “I don’t plan to stay in Norway permanently. I want my future family to live in peace and have plenty of freedom,” he stated in a previous interview.

For now, however, he is staying home and making one happy move after another. On behalf of the entire chess world, we wish Carlsen and Ella much happiness and many joyful moves both on and off the chessboard.