The highest ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen On Monday he returned to competing in New York at the World Blitz Championships after withdrawing from the World Rapid Championships over the weekend due to a dispute over a pair of jeans.
Carlsen, a chess grandmaster, found himself at the center of controversy on Friday when he received a fine and was warned by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) that he couldn’t continue competing until he changed his pants.
Rapid & Blitz Chess winner, five-time world chess champion Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen plays chess with Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi at the 6th TATA Steel Chess India Tournament at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium on November 17, 2024 in Kolkata , India. (Samir Jana/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
The pants, a pair of jeans, violated FIDE’s dress code, which the governing body said was “designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.”
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Unwilling to budge, Carlsen said in an interview after his round that he would not accept the confiscation and would return the next day in proper attire, calling it “a matter of principle.”
“It’s okay, you can enforce your rules,” he continued. “It’s fine with me, and my answer is that it’s fine, then I’m leaving, screw you.”
While Carlsen seemed ready to move on, the five-time world champion returned for the World Rapid Championship on Monday, and he did so sporting another pair of jeans.
Magnus Carlsen plays against Michael Bezold during Day 1 of the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship on December 30, 2024 in New York City. (Misha Friedman/Getty Images)
CHESS GRANDMASTER MAGNUS CARLSEN LEAVES THE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT FOR A PAIR OF JEANS: ‘I’M OUT, F— YOU’
“I think the situation was mishandled on their part,” Carlsen said in an interview with Take Take Take on Sunday, adding that he has a “good relationship” with FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.
Dvorkovich issued a statement announcing that FIDE would relax its dress code policy for this tournament.
“In regards to the application of the rules during the Blitz World Championship, based on consultations with our partners and their preferences, I made the decision to test an approach to provide more flexibility to FIDE officials when it comes to judge the appropriateness of the rules. clothing,” his statement said.
Magnus Carlsen plays against Michael Bezold during Day 1 of the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship on December 30, 2024 in New York City. (Misha Friedman/Getty Images)
“Special assistants will be requested to assist in those judgments and draw final conclusions, in case doubts arise. The principle is simple: it is still necessary to follow the official dress code, but small elegant deviations (which may, in particular, include Se appropriate jeans to match the jacket.) In the end, it is New Year’s time and I sincerely hope that no one tries to undermine the festive atmosphere, even by abusing this additional flexibility.
Carlsen will compete in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
