Magnus Carlsen Joins FC St. Pauli for German Chess Bundesliga Debut

The former world chess champion helped the team secure its first-ever Bundesliga victory and drew widespread attention to the league.

Magnus Carlsen, the former world chess champion and current top-ranked player, debuted for FC St. Pauli in the German Chess Bundesliga this weekend.
Carlsen contributed to FC St. Pauli's first-ever Bundesliga win on Saturday with a victory over Max Warmerdam of SG Solingen, though the team lost narrowly to Düsseldorfer SK on Sunday.
The decision to join FC St. Pauli aligns with Carlsen's admiration for the club's values, which he described as the 'coolest brand in Germany.'
The matches drew significant attention, with limited tickets selling out quickly and hundreds more fans tuning in via online streams to watch Carlsen in action.
Carlsen's participation is part of a broader effort to elevate the profile of the Chess Bundesliga, which features some of the world's top players this season.