The world is chess not short of scandalsand the latest one is surprisingly on brand. Former world champion Magnus Carlsen recently showed up to a competition in jeans, refused to change, was fined, and then threatened to withdraw from the event altogether. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) then proceeded to blink first.
The drama began on December 27 when Carlsen showed up to the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York wearing denim instead of slacks. FIDE said the world chess star was in violation of the event's dress code and slapped him with a $200 fine. When Carlsen refused to go pick up dress pants from the TJ Maxx just a block away from the Cipriani Wall Street mall, the federation upped the ante and removed the champion from his 9th rounds.
Carlsen then called the federation's bluff by saying that he would withdraw completely, canceling the Blitz Chess Championships in which he was set to defend his current title. The federation responded with a lengthy blog post citing possible exceptions to the dress code that must be made at the discretion of the judges.
“The principle is simple: the official dress code must still be followed, but small elegant gestures are allowed (which could, in particular, include fitting jeans that match the t -jacket),” said December 29. notice read. “After all, it is New Year's time, and I sincerely hope that no one would try to undermine the Christmas spirit, including by making a -use this extra flexibility.”
In an interview immediately after the incidentCarlsen said he had come to the event from a meeting and had no time to change. He said that although he had offered to change for the next day's games, that was not enough for the federation. “Maybe I'll go somewhere where the weather is a little better than this,” he said. But now that FIDE has backed their “dragonian” decision, Carlsen is set to reappear on the Blitz side of the tournament.
The five-time world champion wasn't the only one hanging on to his uniform. Eighth grader Ian Nepomniachtchi was fined by FIDE for wearing “sports shoes”. But Carlsen's protest certainly made for more drama. Hans NeumannCarlsen has previously been accused of cheating in a now infamous chess match. “anal beads” scandal.said the champion had caused the jeans fiasco on purpose.
“It's disappointing to let one actor make fun of the competition and then bend the knee,” he said. fall. “FIDE has a responsibility to protect the sanctity of the game. The chesscom mafia tried to ruin my career because of similar emotional outbursts, someone has to stand up! “
Meanwhile, Carlsen plans to continue with the dress code, at least for now. “Oh, I'm definitely playing in jeans tomorrow,” he said fall over the weekend.
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