Magnus Carlsen, the world chess champion, has withdrawn from a significant tournament following a ruling prohibiting him from competing in jeans.
During the Fide World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York, the renowned chess player was defending his titles when officials issued a request.
The grandmaster reported that he had proposed changing his trousers the following day; however, he was fined and instructed to make the change immediately.
The chess federation, Fide, stated that its dress code regulations aim to promote fairness and professionalism among all participants.
Magnus Carlsen, a prominent name in the chess world, has been at the centre of various controversies in recent years.
In the previous year, he reached a resolution in a protracted legal battle, having alleged that a competitor engaged in dishonest practices during a tournament.
On Friday, he withdrew from the championships for the short-form versions of the game following a dispute over his attire. Carlsen held the titles of both the reigning Blitz and Rapid Chess champions.
He said he would not appeal the decision, remarking, “Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much.”
He mentioned that he had opted for jeans during a lunch meeting and “didn’t even think about” changing into a different pair of trousers before heading to the tournament.
He arrived in a shirt, blazer, dark jeans, and dress shoes and played a few rounds before being requested to change attire.
After his proposal to reschedule for the following day was declined, Carlsen remarked that it “became a bit of a matter of principle for me.”
Fide has issued a statement confirming that the 34-year-old has been fined $200 (£159), asserting that its regulations were enforced “impartially.” A case was referenced in which another player received a fine on the same day before altering his footwear.
Magnus Carlsen, a five-time World Chess Champion, continues to hold the top position in the sport.
Since achieving the grandmaster title at just 13 years old, the Norwegian has established a reputation as a maverick in the chess community.
In a concluded conflict with competitor Hans Niemann, Carlsen withdrew from a tournament in 2022 following a defeat to Niemann, subsequently alleging that his American adversary had engaged in cheating.
Niemann has refuted the allegations, even going so far as to state that he would “strip fully naked” to demonstrate his innocence.
In August of the previous year, the two parties settled a lawsuit amounting to $100 million (£79 million).
