But that’s exactly what the Russian-Jewish grandmaster known as ‘Nepo’ is planning to do as he prepares to go into battle on the chess board in Dubai on Wednesday.
It’s a challenge that promises drama far beyond even that seen in the Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit.
The Norwegian title-holder is celebrated for his cool-headed unflappability and at the age of 30 has accrued any number of all-time records for chess.
His 31-year-old opponent — full name is Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi, and understandably known by his nickname ‘Nepo’ to chess fans worldwide — is very much the underdog, with Carlsen being backed at 4 to 1 on to hold his title over the best of 14 games.
However, some cognoscenti believe that Nepo’s chances are rather better than the bookmakers would suggest.
Sometimes sporting a man-bun that makes him stand out in the staid world of chess, he is known for his unorthodox and unusually aggressive style and has a fearsome reputation for putting continual pressure on opponents, although his almost cavalier disregard for risk can occasionally lead him into blunders.
The two rivals will hardly be strangers, having first faced each other in the under-12 age group.
As well as the title, at stake is a total of $2million, with the winner to claim 60 per cent and the loser to have the consolation of the remaining $800,000.
In the event of level scores after the full 14 games, a series of short tie-break deciders can be played, after which the money will be split 55 per cent to 45 per cent.
Born in the city of Bryansk in the westernmost reaches of Russia, Nepo won the chess gold medal at the 2009 Maccabiah games in Israel.
It was in Jerusalem at the end of 2019 that he won the Fide Grand Prix which allowed him to qualify eventually as a challenger for the world title.
Should Nepo win, he would be joining a list of Jewish chess world champions that includes Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov.
