Magnus Carlsen Quits NY Tournaments Over Denim Ban and Fine
Checkmate, fashion police! The chess world was abuzz when Magnus Carlsen, the reigning chess champion, decided to walk away from not one but two prestigious tournaments in New York. The reason? A denim debacle that led to a $200 fine imposed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for violating the dress code.
The drama unfolded at the World Rapid Championship where Carlsen, the top-ranked chess player globally, showed up in denim, a move that did not sit well with the tournament's officials. Despite being asked to change his attire by the chief arbiter and facing a fine, Carlsen stood his ground, leading to his withdrawal from the tournament.
Not only did Carlsen opt out of the World Rapid Chess Championship due to the sartorial standoff, but he also decided to skip the Blitz Chess Championships scheduled to follow the ongoing event. This decision raised eyebrows as Carlsen has a remarkable track record, having clinched the Rapid tournament seven times and the Blitz five times over the past decade.
Speaking to Chess.com, Carlsen emphasized that his stance was a matter of principle. He recounted a scenario where he had to hurriedly change after a lunch meeting on the tournament's second day, inadvertently overlooking the denim attire. Despite receiving a fine and a warning that he would not be paired for the next round unless he changed, Carlsen chose to stick to his guns.
Carlsen explained, "I put on a shirt, jacket, and honestly, like, I didn't even think about jeans, even changed my shoes. I didn't even think about it. First of all, I got a fine, which is fine, and then I got a warning that I would not be paired if I didn't go change my clothes. They said that I could do it after the third round today."
He continued, "I said, 'I'll change tomorrow if that's OK. I didn't even realize it today,' but they said, 'Well, you have to change now.' At that point, it became a bit of a matter of principle for me."
Despite his disagreement with the tournament's regulations, Carlsen expressed acceptance of the consequences, stating, "Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much. If this is what they want to do... and this is where we are. It's fine by me. I'll probably head off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer than here."
On the other side of the chessboard, FIDE defended its dress code as a measure to uphold professionalism and fairness among all participants. The organization clarified that penalizing Carlsen was done impartially, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the established guidelines.
