The world’s best chess player walked out of a major tournament in New York City after officials told him he couldn’t wear jeans to compete.
Magnus Carlsenaged 34, was competing in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Blitz Chess Championship and the World Rapid Chess Championship. During these events, chess players compete under specific time rules. Carlsen won both tournaments in both 2022 and 2023. He has won the Blitz Chess Championship seven times and the Rapid Chess Championship five times in the last 10 years.
The 2024 events began on Thursday. Carlsen arrived at Friday’s events wearing jeans, which officials said is “explicitly prohibited” under the federation’s regulations for the event. Carlsen said he was coming from a lunch meeting and had played several rounds before officials told him he had to change, he said. BBC News, partner of CBS News.
Carlsen was told he would be fined $200 and asked to change clothes, the federation said. Carlsen refused to do so, but offered to switch to the next day. When that offer was rejected, Carlsen said it “became a bit of a matter of principle,” according to the BBC.
Carlsen was not allowed to play in the ninth round of the tournament, disqualifying him from further participation. Carlsen said he would not appeal the decision, according to the BBC. He later shared a photo of himself in jeans, a blazer and a blue shirt on social media, captioning it “OOTD,” an acronym for “outfit of the day.”
The federation said in a statement shared on social networks that dress code rules are made clear to participants, communicated before each event and are “designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.” The events were also located “within walking distance” of the players’ accommodation, the federation said, “making compliance with the rules more convenient.
Earlier in the day, another player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined for breaching the dress code for wearing sports shoes, the federation said. Nepomniachtchi changed his shoes and was allowed to continue playing in the tournament, officials said.
The tournament will end on Saturday.
It is not the first time that Carlsen, who became a Grandmaster of chess at the age of 13has generated controversy. He accused American player Hans Niemann of cheating after Niemann beat him in a tournament. A week later, the two were paired in an online chess game, which Carlsen quit after a single move. Niemann, who previously admitted to cheating in online games, denied Carlsen’s allegations. Carlsen he said he believed the American player had cheated more than he had admitted. the couple settled a lawsuit for $100 million in August 2023.