Norway's Magnus Carlsen has won the last four World Chess Championships and is BetOnline's -300 favorite to win again this year. Photo by: Lennart Ootes (Wiki Commons)

Magnus Carlsen is the king of competitive chess.

People who are awed by the 15-game winning streak of the NBAs Toronto Raptors need to get to know Carlsen. The 29-year-old Norwegian is unbeaten in his last 111 consecutive classical games. Thats a world record.

Carlsen has also won the last four World Chess Championships. The planets elite grandmasters of chess gather next month in Yekaterinburg, Russia for the 2020 edition of this biennial competition.

Carlsen is the overwhelming favorite to make it five titles in a row. BetOnline pegs Carlsen as the prohibitive -300 chalk.

Odds taken Feb. 12

Russias Garry Kasparov and Germanys Emanuel Lasker share the record, each with six consecutive world title wins.

Indias Viswanathan Anand had won five world titles, including the last four, when Carlsen beat him in 2013. He beat Anand again for his second title. Carlsens added two more crowns since.

The Norwegian prodigy is described as the Mozart of chess. Last month, he shattered Sergei Tiviakovs world unbeaten mark of 110 consecutive matches.

One more world title and the value of Carlsens rookie card really figures to soar. Kasparov, probably the most famous chess master of them all, won six straight world championships from 1985-95.

Lasker was a turn of the 20th century star who earned his six successive global chess crowns between 1894-1910.

They are among eight players whove won at least four world chess championships but only five of those players managed to win as many as four in a row.

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If the NFL operated in the same manner as the World Chess Championship, the Kansas City Chiefs would already be one of the teams in Super Bowl 55.

As defending champion, Carlsen is anointed one of the two available spots in the championship final. Meanwhile, eight other contenders will square off in whats known as the Candidates Tournament.

This is a double-round robin competition. The survivor of this event earns the right to meet Carlsen for the world title.

American Fabiano Caruana is among the eight candidates. He lost the 2018 world championship final match to Carlsen.

Chinas Ding Laren is another potential finalist. He was chess Grand Champion in 2019. Azerbaijans Teimour Radjabov has recorded wins over four world champions, including Kasparov and a 2014 victory against Carlsen.

Every great champion eventually falls. Is this the year Carlsen takes a tumble?

If you arent anxious to play Carlsen at such negative odds, thats understandable. Those seeking a value bet on the World Chess Championship can take advantage of BetOnlines Carlsen vs the field prop wager.

Rather than rolling the dice on which of the eight contenders will emerge victorious from the Candidates Tournament, this wager gives you all eight challengers rolled into one.

Still, its difficult to see anyone winning this other than Carlsen. Hes been at the top of his game for several years. At 29, he hasnt even reached his prime years yet.

Pick: Magnus Carlsen (-300)

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An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.

NFL NBA MLB NHL NCAAF NCAAB Tennis

An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.

Originally posted here:

2020 Chess World Championship Odds - Magnus Carlsen Listed as Heavy Favorite - Sports Betting Dime