The chess world is like that there is never a shortage of scandalsand the newest one is incredibly branded. Top former world champion Magnus Carlsen recently showed up to a tournament wearing jeans, refused to change, was fined and then threatened to withdraw from the event altogether. Then the International Chess Federation (FIDE) started blinking first.
The drama began on December 27, when Carlsen showed up at the World Rapid and Lightning Chess Championships in New York wearing jeans instead of trousers. FIDE found that the chess star had violated the event’s regulations and fined him $200. When Carlsen refused to pick up his dress pants at a TJ Maxx just a block from Cipriani Stadium on Wall Street, the promotion upped the ante and removed the champion from his ninth-round fights.
Carlsen then called the federation’s bluff by saying he would withdraw completely, abandoning the blitz championship in which he was to defend his current title. In response, the federation posted a lengthy blog post announcing possible exceptions to the dress code, which should be made at the judges’ discretion.
“The rule is simple: the official dress code still applies, but minor deviations from the elegant style are allowed (which may include, in particular, matching jeans to a jacket)” – December 29 advertisement read. “The New Year is finally here and I sincerely hope that no one will try to spoil the holiday spirit by abusing this extra flexibility.”
In an interview immediately after the eventCarlsen said he came to the event from a meeting and didn’t have time to change. He added that although he proposed a change to the next day’s matches, it was not enough for the federation. “I’ll probably go somewhere where the weather is a little nicer than here,” he joked. However, now that FIDE has withdrawn its “draconian” decision, Carlsen will appear in the Blitz tournament again.
The five-time world champion wasn’t the only one to complain about his outfit. Eighth-ranked Ian Nepomniachtchi was also fined by FIDE for wearing “sports shoes”. But Carlsen’s protest certainly caused more drama. Hans Neimannwhom Carlsen had previously accused of cheating in the now infamous chess game The “anal beads” scandal.he said that the master deliberately manufactured the jeans fiasco.
“Allowing one actor to make a mockery of the tournament and then bend the knee is disappointing,” he said he tweeted. “FIDE has a duty to protect the sanctity of the game. The chess mafia tried to ruin my career due to a similar outburst of emotion, someone needs to take a stand!”
Meanwhile, Carlsen plans to continue flouting the dress code, at least for now. “Oh, I’ll definitely be playing in jeans tomorrow,” he said he tweeted on the weekend.
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