Pacquiao lasts 41 moves before losing to Carlsen’s young version

Manny Pacquiao isn’t a tournament player but he is better than most amateurs who dabble in chess.

This was shown on Friday, October 1 (Saturday, October 2, Philippine time), when the newly retired boxing legend, sitting Philippine senator, and presidential aspirant lasted 41 moves in a losing effort to a 10-year-old version of longtime world champion Magnus Carlsen.

Handling white, Pacquiao gamely engaged the Play Magnus app before getting checkmated in the one-game exhibition dubbed the Magnus Carlsen Celebrity Charity Challenge which spiced up the ongoing 2021 Champions Chess Tour Finals.

For taking part, Pacquiao gets $5,000 (P250,000) which will go to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation focused on helping destitute Filipinos.

Pacquiao became the second celebrity to perform well against the Play Magnus app after Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, who lasted 49 moves.

Actor Rain Wilson lasted 30 moves, actor Cuba Gooding Jr. 16 moves, while actor Joe Mantegna (13), German Formula E racer Maximilian Gunther (14), American education and Khan Academy founder Sal Khan (13), and British television presenter Liv Boeree (19) also fell short.

Carlsen has remained unbeaten thus far.

According to Norwegian records, Carlsen’s Elo rating was 1645 when he was 10 and it rose to 2127 when he became a FIDE Master at 11. – Rappler.com