World Chess Championship 2013: Photo Biography of Magnus Carlsen the Wonderkid of Chess

At just 22 years old, Norwegian chess superstar Magnus Carlsen is already been talked about possibly becoming one of the greatest players of all time having burst on to the scene when he was just 13.

His list of achievements at such a relatively young age - and model looks - has seen Carlsen's worldwide fame transcend the game of chess and brought a popularity and attention not seen since the days of US and Soviet rivalry during the Cold War.

Aged just 13, he became the third youngest player to achieve rank of grandmaster. He followed that two years later by becoming the youngest ever World Chess Championship candidate. Four years later he was the youngest person to achieve the world No 1 ranking.

The fact that he became a grandmaster so young is all the more remarkable given that he did not take the game seriously untilo he was five.

His rise from child prodigy to chess superstar was sealed earlier this year when he became the highest-rated chess player in history, with an Elo rating of 2861, beating Garry Kasparov's record of 1851.

Despite everything he has achieved so far in his career, including London Chess Classic in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and the Bilboa Masters in 2011 and 2012, there is still one title that has eluded Carlsen - the World Chess championship.

He is battling five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand and leads 4.5-2.5 after the seventh match ended in a draw.

Whatever the outcome in the match, history will be made. If Carlsen wins, he would herald in a new era of chess and potentially dominate for years. If Anand wins, he will be rated along with Kasparov as the most successful player in modern chess.

With the competition moving to its second half, IBTimes UK looks back on Carlsen's career.