Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen made headlines by leaving the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships due to a dispute over attire. According to the International Chess Federation, Carlsen faced a penalty of $200 for violating the tournament’s dress code, which prohibits jeans. Despite the fine and being informed by the chief arbiter to change his clothing, Carlsen refused and subsequently withdrew from the event in New York before round nine.
Carlsen, appearing on his Take Take Take chess app via the social platform X, acknowledged the fine, stating he was willing to change his jeans for future games but faced immediate demands to alter his attire. “At that point, it became a bit of a matter of principle for me,” Carlsen explained, indicating that the insistence on an immediate change led to his decision to exit the competition.
The federation emphasized that the dress code ensures fairness and professionalism, with expectations communicated to all participants in advance. Another competitor, Ian Nepomniachtchi, had also breached the dress code by wearing sports shoes but complied and continued in the tournament. The federation reiterated that its rules, in place for years, apply to all players equally.
