Magnus Carlsen to rejoin chess tournament after wardrobe controversy
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen has made a decision to participate in the World Blitz Championship after initially withdrawing from the chess tournament due to a disagreement over the dress code with organizers.
On Friday, Carlsen left the World Rapid Chess Championship after refusing to change out of his jeans, which the International Chess Federation (FIDE) deemed a violation of the tournament’s dress code.
Initially, Carlsen had stated that he would not return for the Blitz competition scheduled to start on Monday in New York. However, following what he described as “fruitful” discussions with FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and the main tournament sponsor, Carlsen has had a change of heart and will be competing in the Blitz Championship.
Despite his decision to continue wearing jeans, Carlsen, a five-time world rapid and seven-time world blitz champion, was fined $200 for his attire during the rapid tournament on Friday. The Chief Arbiter had requested him to change his clothes, but Carlsen explained that he had come directly from a lunch meeting and did not have time to change.
After a standoff with FIDE, Carlsen decided to withdraw from the rapid tournament as a matter of principle. FIDE stated that the dress code rules apply equally to all players and mentioned another player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, who had also breached the dress code but continued to play after changing his attire.
In response to the situation, FIDE president Dvorkovich expressed regret over how things had unfolded and announced changes to the rules for the upcoming Blitz tournament. The new approach allows for some flexibility in the interpretation of the dress code, permitting minor deviations such as appropriate jeans paired with a jacket.
Carlsen has had a history of clashes with FIDE, the governing body of chess, and had expressed his frustration with the organization when initially announcing his decision to withdraw from the tournaments. However, he later softened his stance, acknowledging that certain individuals within FIDE had mishandled the situation.
In a statement on Sunday, Dvorkovich recognized the need for further discussion on modernizing the rules to reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport. Carlsen, for his part, has decided to put the incident behind him and focus on competing in the upcoming Blitz Championship.
