Magnus Carlsen kicked out of World Rapid and Blitz Championship for wearing jeans; ‘Stupid principle,’ says Master

Magnus Carlsen, multiple world champion and the reigning World Rapid and Blitz champion, was disqualified from the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship held in Wall Street, New York by FIDE for violating the dress code. FIDE said Carlsen breached the tournament’s formal dress code by wearing jeans, which are “explicitly prohibited”.

The Norwegian champion was first fined $200 and then asked to change to formals immediately, which Carlsen refused. He said he had agreed to follow the dress from the next day, but was not ready to do so immediately. Carlsen was not paired until Round 9, and then FIDE Chief Referee Alex Holowzsak disqualified him, citing impartial rules that apply to all players, regardless of their stature.

“FIDE’s rules for the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, including the dress code, are designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.

“Today, Mr. Magnus Carlsen violated the dress code by wearing jeans, which are explicitly prohibited under long-standing rules for this event. The head judge informed Mr. Carlsen of the violation, issued a $200 fine, and requested that he change his attire. Unfortunately declined Mr Carlsen and as a result he was not paired for round nine all players,” FIDE said in a statement.

The statement also gave the example of Ian Nepomniachtchi, who was fined for a dress code breach for wearing sports shoes instead of formal ones, but was allowed to continue after changing into the approved attire.

“Earlier in the day, another participant, Mr. Ian Nepomniachtchi, was also fined for breaching the dress code by wearing sports shoes. However, Mr. Nepomniachtchi complied, changed into approved attire and continued to play in the tournament.

“The dress code is drawn up by members of FIDE’s Athletes’ Commission, which is composed of professional players and experts. These rules have been in place for years and are well known to all participants and are communicated to them prior to each event. FIDE has also ensured that the players’ accommodation is within short walking distance of the venue, making compliance more convenient.

“FIDE remains committed to promoting chess and its values, including respect for the rules that all participants agree to follow,” it added.

No appeal, Carlsen calls FIDE stupid

Carlsen declared open war with FIDE and called the rules “stupid”.

“I’m quite tired of FIDE, so I don’t want any more of this. I don’t want anything to do with them. I’m sorry to everyone at home, maybe it’s a stupid principle, but I don’t think it’s fun,” says Carlsen to the Norwegian TV channel NRK.

Later, while speaking to a YouTube channel called ‘Take Take Take’, Carlsen shed light on the course of events.

“Yesterday was a difficult day. You know, I lost a game, could have lost a couple more. In general, I didn’t play well, a little out of control,” he said.

“I slept really well and I had a nice lunch meeting before I came here. I barely had time to go to the room, change, so I put on a shirt, a jacket. And honestly, I didn’t even think about the jeans.

“I even changed my shoes, but I didn’t even think about it. And then I got here, and I don’t know if it was after the first game or the second game. I think it was after… Yeah, I can’t remember.

“But I got a warning that I had to change my… Well, first of all I got a fine. And then I got a warning that I wouldn’t be paired if I didn’t change jeans with the same. They said I could do it after the third round today.

“I said I’ll change tomorrow if that’s okay. I didn’t even realize it today. But they said, well, you have to change now.

“And at that point it became a bit of a matter of principle for me.”

When prodded about whether he has appealed, the former world champion said: “No, I haven’t appealed. Honestly, I’m too old at this point to care too much.”

“If that’s what they’re going to do, it goes either way, right? Nobody wants to back down, and this is where we are. That’s fine by me. I’ll probably go somewhere where the weather is a little better than here.”