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Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen won’t be defending his Federation International Chess Federation (FIDE) Blitz and Blitz World Championship title because of a pair of jeans.
Carlsen, the current world No. 1, withdrew from the tournament in New York on Friday after receiving a $200 fine and a warning from FIDE for violating the dress code. The five-time world champion was told he would not be able to continue until he changed his jeans, a change a defiant Carlsen was reluctant to make.
Rapid & Blitz chess winner Magnus Carlsen plays chess with Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi at the 6th TATA Steel Chess India Tournament at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata, India on November 17, (Samir Jana/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
“The FIDE regulations for the Blitz and Rapid Chess World Championships, including the dress code, are designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants,” the organization said in a statement released on Friday.
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“Today, Mr. Magnus Carlsen violated the dress code by wearing jeans, which are expressly prohibited under the long-standing regulations for this event. The head judge informed Mr. Carlsen of the violation, issued a $200 fine and asked him to change his Unfortunately, Mr. Carlsen has refused, and as a result, did not receive a pair for the ninth round. This decision was made impartially and applies equally to all players.”
Carlsen could accept the round ban and continue with the tournament on Saturday, but told Take Take Take in an interview after the incident that he was not interested in continuing.
“Honestly, I’m too old at this point to care too much. If that’s what they want to do – I guess it goes both ways, right? Nobody wants to step down, and this is where we are. It’s fine. I probably will to go somewhere where the weather is a little nicer than here.”
Magnus Carlsen on Day 2 of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship on December 27, 2024 in New York. (Misha Friedman/Getty Images)
“It’s fine, I can enforce my own rules,” he continued. “That’s fine as far as I’m concerned, and my answer is that it’s fine, then I’m leaving, fuck you.”
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Carlsen, who arrived two minutes late for one of his rounds on the same day, did controversy is no stranger. But he explained that wearing jeans was simply an error in judgment. He explained that he had arrived from a lunch meeting and had just enough time to change quickly in his room before heading to the tournament.
When asked if he could go ahead and comply with the dress code the next day, Carlsen said FIDE refused and told him he would not be matched if he did not change after his round.
– At that moment, it became somewhat principled to me.
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FIDE also doubled down on its rules, noting that another participant had received a similar warning for wearing “athletic footwear”. That person changed and was able to move on.
Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen plays chess during the 6th TATA Steel Chess India Tournament at Dhono Dhanyo Hall. (Soup Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“The dress code is drawn up by the members of the FIDE Athletes’ Commission, which consists of professional players and experts. These rules have been in place for years and are well known to all participants and are communicated to them before each competition. FIDE has also ensured that player accommodation is within a short walking distance from the place of play, which made compliance with the rules more practical,” the statement said.
“FIDE remains committed to promoting chess and its values, including respecting the rules that all participants agree to abide by.”
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