Games and Goals (Paperback)

This Games and Goals: The Fascinating Chess and Football Careers of Simen Agdestein is an English-language paperback biography of one of Norway’s most unusual sporting figures, tracing how Simen Agdestein built parallel careers in chess and football at the highest level.

What this book is about

Agdestein became a grandmaster at 18, making him the youngest chess grandmaster in the world at the time. Two years later, he was still convinced he could become the best chess player in the world. At the same time, he was also developing a football career that took him to nine appearances for Norway, while clubs abroad were interested in him too.

That combination makes his story stand out. Agdestein himself described the choice between chess and football as like choosing between his left and right hand, and the book follows what it meant to try to live in both worlds at once.

Why read this biography?

This is not just a story of success. Atle Grønn also looks at the difficult turning points, including the moment Agdestein turned down a place in Norway’s World Cup qualifying match against Scotland because he chose to play in a chess tournament in Belgrade, where he was due to face Garry Kasparov. His football plans were later brought to an end by a knee injury.

With access to private letters and diaries, as well as conversations with Agdestein, his family and friends, Grønn builds a detailed portrait of uncertainty, ambition, doubt and determination. It is a strong choice for readers interested in chess, football and sports biographies that go beyond a simple winning story.

The book also follows Agdestein into his later work as a coach and teacher at the Norwegian College for Top Athletes, where Magnus Carlsen was among his students. Agdestein remains active in chess, and in 2023 he won the Norwegian championship for the ninth time, 41 years after his first title.

Author and edition

• Author: Atle Grønn
• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• Page count: 272

Atle Grønn (born 1971) is a professor of Slavic studies at the University of Oslo, an international master and a respected chess writer. His books Sjakken eller Livet (Chess or Life, 2016) and Sjakkgeniene (Chess Geniuses, 2018), written with Olav Lahlum, were bestsellers. In Norway, he is also known as a chess expert on live broadcasts for NRK and VGTV.

Reviews and praise

GM Matthew Sadler (New In Chess magazine) praised the book’s account of the impact of Agdestein’s football injuries, while IM Gary Lane (Australian Chess) called it a compelling story of a wonderkid who had it all, lost most of it and then discovered Magnus Carlsen. IM John Donaldson (Oklahoma Chess Magazine) highlighted Grønn’s portrait of growing up in a small country with a modest chess tradition before the rise of Carlsen.

Key details

• Product type: paperback biography
• Subject: Simen Agdestein
• Scope: chess and football biography
• Language: English
• Author: Atle Grønn
• Page count: 272
• Binding: paperback
• Later role: coach and teacher at the Norwegian College for Top Athletes