“I just didn't realize”: Chess player Magnus Carlsen punished for wearing jeans leaves world championships

World-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the World Rapid Championships on Friday after being fined for wearing jeans during competition in New York.

On the second day of the World Rapid Championships, which runs from Thursday to Saturday in New York, Norway's Magnus Carlsen was first fined for wearing jeans during competition, which is prohibited by the rules of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

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“Then I got a warning that I wouldn't be paired for the next round if I didn't change my clothes after the third part” of the four planned for Friday. “I asked if I could change to tomorrow (Saturday), because I just hadn't realized (…) From that point on it kind of became a matter of principle”, Carlsen explained on the channel Take Take Take, named after the chess platform he created.

Absent for World Championship

“I'm too old now to worry about it”, the 34-year-old grandmaster continued, confirming that he would be absent for the final day on Saturday, as well as for the World Blitz Championship held on Monday and Tuesday at the same venue.

“Nobody wants to back down… I'll probably go to a place where the weather is a bit nicer than here”, Carlsen continued. He posted on his social networks a photo of his outfit of the day, a polo shirt with a jacket and blue jeans.

“The Fide rules, like the dress code, are designed to ensure professionalism and fairness among all participants”, the Federation responded in a statement. “These rules have been in place for years, are known to all participants and are communicated to them before each event”, the statement added.

What is his record ?

Magnus Carlsen is the defending champion of these two annual competitions organized by the International Federation. In total, he won the Rapid World Championship five times and the Blitz World Championship seven times.

He was also the long game world champion five times, the most prestigious title, before giving up his crown without a fight, saying he was tired of the format. The title was won in early December by the Indian Gukesh Dommaraju, 5th in the world rankings and absent from the United States.

The Russian player Ian Nepomniachtchi was also fined for his attire. “As the chief arbiter just told me, none other than Ahmed Adly (the chairman of the International Federation's Athletes' Commission, editor's note) thinks that a chess player should not dress like this. The $200 fine will therefore (hopefully) be donated to the Chess Fashion Research Foundation”, he wrote on his social networks, with a photo of himself wearing jeans.