At the end of November 2020, World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen was dethroned after nine years in power. Carlsen’s loss of the world title came down to a single mouse slip – a momentary misstep that cost him the match.
In what was one of the most closely contested World Chess Championships ever, the match between Carlsen and GM Fabiano Caruana was full of fireworks and suspense. It all came down to the 14th and final game of the series, which would decide the fate of the Championship. After a five hour-long battle, both players were virtually deadlocked. Carlsen was on the brink of a tie and needed only a single draw to retain his world title.
However, in a moment of distraction, Carlsen made a fatal mistake while moving his mouse over the chessboard. He accidentally moved his rook instead of choosing the right moves to secure the draw needed to maintain his world title. Though he was able to regain control of the game for a few more moves, it soon became clear that there was no hope of a draw. Caruana took advantage of Carlsen’s mistake and won the game, securing the World Championship in the process.
The momentous mouse slip brought an abrupt and unexpected end to an otherwise thrilling World Chess Championship. In the aftermath, Carlsen was a picture of frustration and disappointment. Though he had achieved so much as world champion, this single mouse slip would cost him his title and his legacy.
While it’s obviously not possible to know what would have happened if Carlsen hadn’t made his mistake, it’s clear that it was the difference between him retaining the title and it being handed over to Caruana. It was a mistake that cost the world champion his historic régime and will likely remain among the most infamous mouse slips in chess history.
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