Magnus Carlsen took the honorary kick off for the Real Madrid-Valladolid match (The Norwegian, who became world chess champion on 22nd November, turns 23 on Saturday, December 30, and received a shirt and watch as a gift from President Florentino Pérez). The World Chess Champion was personally invited by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Magnus Carlsen is known as a Whites fan, took the honorary kick-off in the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valladolid. The Norwegian, who is the second youngest champion in the chess history after Kasparov, received an ovation from the Bernabéu after winning the title by beating Viswanathan Anand, also a Real Madrid supporter, in Chennai (India).
Prior to the match, Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez gave him a shirt with his name on and an inscribed watch for his 23rd birthday. -- Courtesy Real Madrid official website (Lots of other photos by Ángel Martínez on this link)
The World Chess Champion wore a Real Madrid shirt with 'Magnus' printed on the back. The home team won the match 4-0 with three goals by Gareth Bale.
The World Chess Champion wore a Real Madrid shirt with 'Magnus' printed on the back. The home team won the match 4-0 with three goals by Gareth Bale.
"It was super cool, it was great for a football fan," said Carlsen to the Norwegian newspaper VG in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, late Saturday night. "I had planned to stay home and relax, but this was something I could not say no to."
Posted in: carlsen video,florentino perez,magnus carlsen,mesut ozil,real madrid,valladolid
