Chess champion leaves FIDE tournament after being told to change jeans

World chess number one Magnus Carlsen has pulled out of a major tournament after being told he could not continue playing while wearing jeans.

The chess great had been defending his titles at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York when officials made the request.

The grandmaster said he had offered to change pants for the next day, but was fined and told to change immediately.

The Swedish Chess Federation (FIDE) said its dress code rules were designed to “ensure fairness and professionalism for all participants”.

Carlsen is a high-profile figure in chess who has attracted some controversy in recent years.

Last year he settled a long-running legal dispute after accusing a rival of cheating in a tournament.

On Friday, he pulled out of the championships for the short versions of the game because of the dress. Carlsen had been both reigning Blitz and Rapid Chess champions.

He added that he would not appeal the decision, saying: “Honestly, I’m too old at this point to worry too much.”

He said he had been wearing jeans to a lunch meeting and “didn’t even think” to change them for another pair of pants when he was going to the tournament.

He showed up wearing a shirt, blazer, dark jeans and dress shoes and played a few rounds before being asked to change.

When his offer to switch to the next day was rejected, Carlsen said that it then “became a bit of a matter of principle for me.”

In a statement, FIDE confirmed the 34-year-old was fined $200 (£159) and said its rules were applied “impartially”. They mentioned a case where another player was fined the same day before changing his shoes.

Carlsen is a five-time world champion in chess and maintains the top position in the sport.

The Norwegian has long been regarded as a maverick in the chess world, since he became grandmaster – the top title in chess – as a 13-year-old.

In a now-settled dispute with opponent Hans Niemann, Carlsen walked out of a 2022 tournament after Niemann beat him before going on to accuse his American rival of cheating.

Niemann had denied the allegations and even said he would “dress completely naked” to prove his innocence.

The couple went on to settle a $100 million lawsuit. (£79m) in August last year.