Chess champion Magnus Carlsen disqualified from tournament for wearing jeans

The world’s prime chess participant stop a serious event in New York Metropolis after officers informed him he could not put on denims to compete. 

Magnus Carlsen, 34, was competing within the Worldwide Chess Federation (FIDE)’s World Blitz Chess Championship and the World Speedy Chess Championship. Throughout these occasions, chess gamers compete beneath particular time guidelines. Carlsen received each tournaments in each 2022 and 2023. He has received the Blitz Chess Championship seven occasions and the Speedy Chess Championship 5 occasions up to now 10 years. 

The 2024 occasions started on Thursday. Carlsen arrived at Friday’s occasions in denims, which officers stated is “explicitly prohibited” beneath the federation’s laws for the occasion. Carlsen stated he was coming from a lunch assembly and had performed a number of rounds earlier than officers informed him he needed to change, in line with CBS Information associate BBC Information. 

Carlsen was informed he could be fined $200, and was requested to vary his garments, the federation stated. Carlsen declined to take action however provided to vary for the subsequent day. When that provide was refused, Carlsen stated it “turned a little bit of a matter of precept,” in line with the BBC. 

Carlsen was not permitted to play within the event’s ninth spherical, disqualifying him from additional participation. Carlsen stated he wouldn’t attraction the choice, in line with the BBC. He later shared a photograph of himself in denims, a blazer and blue shirt on social media, captioning it “OOTD,” an acronym for “outfit of the day.” 

The federation stated in an announcement shared on social media that gown code guidelines are made clear to contributors, are communicated forward of every occasion, and are “designed to make sure professionalism and equity for all contributors.” The occasions had been additionally inside a “brief strolling distance” from the gamers’ lodging, the federation stated, “making adherence to the principles extra handy. 

Earlier within the day, one other participant, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined for breaching the gown code by sporting sports activities sneakers, the federation stated. Nepomniachtchi modified his sneakers and was allowed to proceed taking part in within the event, officers stated. 

The event will conclude on Saturday. 

This isn’t the primary time Carlsen, who turned a chess grandmaster at 13, has drawn controversy. He accused American participant Hans Niemann of dishonest after Niemann beat him in a event. Per week later, the 2 had been paired in a web-based chess recreation, which Carlsen stop after only one transfer. Niemann, who had beforehand admitted to dishonest in on-line video games, denied Carlsen’s allegations. Carlsen stated he believed the American participant had cheated greater than he had admitted. The pair settled a $100 million lawsuit in August 2023.