Henrik Carlsen

Henrik Carlsen is a Norwegian engineer, businessman, and passionate chess player – best known as the father of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.

With a rating above 2000, Henrik is a strong player in his own right, but his greatest impact on the chess world has come off the board. He was the one who first introduced Magnus to the game, guided his early development, and followed him closely on the journey from curious child to World Champion.

At ChessParty, Henrik will share a rare and personal perspective on that journey. Through stories from Magnus’ childhood, he will reflect on what it was really like to raise a future world champion, from the early years of discovery to the challenges and choices along the way.

A central theme in their upbringing was that motivation had to come from within. Henrik and his late wife, Sigrun Øen, were determined that Magnus should play because he wanted to, and not because he was pushed. That philosophy would prove to be one of the defining factors behind his development.

Following the talk, there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and engage directly in a Q&A session.

Beyond chess, Henrik has held leadership roles in Norwegian business and played a key role in advising Magnus on ventures such as Play Magnus and Take Take Take.

This is a unique opportunity to hear the story behind one of the greatest sports careers of all time, and to ask your own questions to someone who was there from the very beginning.