Chess great Magnus Carlsen will return to the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York after initially quitting following governing body FIDE’s decision to bar him for wearing jeans.
Carlsen, world champion between 2013 and 2023, decided to leave the tournament on Friday after FIDE barred the Norwegian from participating in a round at the tournament due to his breach of dress code regulations.
In an interview to the YouTube channel of the Take Take Take app on Sunday, the 34-year-old confirmed he would be returning — and would be playing in jeans.
“As a matter of principle I am definitely playing in jeans,” Carlsen said.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said on X late Sunday that that he approved a trial of a more flexible approach to attire during the World Blitz Championships that would allow minor deviations from the official dress code.
Why did Carlsen withdraw?
FIDE originally said Carlsen had broken the dress code for the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships by wearing jeans on Friday.
The body added that it had issued Carlsen a $200 fine and given him an opportunity to change into the correct attire, which the champion rejected.
Carlsen said he had a lunch meeting before the round and had to change quickly.
“I put on a shirt, jacket and honestly like I didn’t even think about jeans, even changed my shoes,” Carlsen told Take Take Take.
“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.
“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.”
OOTD <a href=”https://t.co/9reOP6zuJv”>pic.twitter.com/9reOP6zuJv</a>
—@MagnusCarlsen
The 34-year-old added that he would not appeal the decision, saying: “Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much.
“If this is what they want to do … I guess it goes both ways, right — nobody wants to back down — 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.”
Why are there dress code regulations?
In a statement, FIDE said its dress code regulations were designed to “ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.”
A polished appearance conveys seriousness and respect for the game, setting the tone for a focused and engaging tournament experience, it said in its dress code guidelines.
“The dress code promotes a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect among participants, creating a more unified and cohesive environment where everyone feels equally valued and part of the chess community,” the guidelines say.
What is the dress code for men?
The dress code for the playing venue is described as “smart business attire” and applies to all individuals participating including players, officials and representatives. It suggests:
- Shoes: Oxfords, loafers, leather shoes or boots, classic suite shoes.
- Dark-coloured pants: black, navy, grey, beige, brown, in any case unicoloured. No bright colours.
- Long-sleeved light-coloured (white, light blue, beige, brown, etc.), blue or black shirt, in any case unicoloured. No bright colours.
- Dark-coloured jacket, waistcoat or cardigan with buttons: black, navy, grey, beige, brown, in any case unicoloured. No bright colours.
- Jacket, waistcoat or cardigan may be taken off during play.
- Tie is not mandatory.
The guidelines state that “no players with T-shirts, jeans, shorts, sneakers, baseball caps or inappropriate dress are allowed in the playing area. Any requests to wear national or traditional dress shall be approved by FIDE supervisor.”
Outside the playing venue, the dress code is relaxed, allowing for more casual attire.
Carlsen returns after ‘fruitful discussions’
“To make a long story short: I’ll be playing at least one more day here in New York. If I do well, another day after that,” Carlsen told Take Take Take on Sunday.
He said he had talks with FIDE’s president after the incident.
“Speaking to Dvorkovich and the main sponsor Turlov, it did feel we could have some fruitful discussions and in the end of the day I decided to play,” he said.
“In addition, I love playing blitz chess. I want to give the fans the chance to see me play it. It could be the last time, who knows.”
Dvorkovich expressed regret in a post on FIDE’s X account later on Sunday over the situation escalating and acknowledged Carlsen’s vital role in elevating the sport.
“It is unfortunate that the implementation of dress-code rules, while being legally sound and consistent, has left some feeling this is disproportionate and caused the situation everyone would have preferred to avoid,” he said.
Dvorkovich added that he approved a trial of a more flexible approach to attire during the World Blitz Championships that would allow minor deviations from the official dress code.
Who else broke the dress code?
Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi was also fined for breaching the dress code by wearing sports shoes.
“However, he complied, changed into approved attire, and continued to play in the tournament,” FIDE said.