Magnus Carlsen’s wearing jeans excluded him from the chess tournament.
Magnus Carlsen, a legendary chess player, left the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York on Friday after the FIDE, the tournament’s governing body, disqualified the Norwegian from playing in a round because he was wearing jeans.
The Fédération Internationale des Échecs, the International Chess Federation, said in a statement that the purpose of its dress code guidelines was to “ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.”
The world No. 1 responded negatively to FIDE’s announcement that it had fined Carlsen $200 and offered him a chance to change into the proper clothing.
Carlsen, the world champion from 2013 until 2023, claimed he had to change fast because he had a lunch appointment prior to the round.
Carlsen said to Take Take Take, “I changed my shoes and put on a shirt and jacket, and honestly, I didn’t even think about jeans.”
“I didn’t even consider it… I was first given a fine, which is acceptable, and then I was warned that if I didn’t go change my clothes, I wouldn’t be partnered. After today’s third round, they said I could do it.
I didn’t even realize it today, so I said, ‘I’ll change tomorrow if that’s okay.’ But they replied, ‘Well, you have to change immediately.'” For me, it became somewhat of a principle issue at that time.
“To be honest, I am too old at this point to care too much,” the 34-year-old said, adding that he will not appeal the ruling.
“I suppose that goes both ways, right? Nobody wants to give up, and this is where we are if this is what they want to do. I don’t mind at all. I’ll most likely travel to a place with somewhat better weather than this one.”