Chess world champion reenters major competition after the International Chess Federation adjusts its dress code to allow “elegant deviations.”
Magnus Carlsen, the world number one chess player, has returned to a major tournament after initially withdrawing over a dispute about his attire. The controversy arose when Carlsen, during the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York, was asked to change his jeans for not adhering to the dress code. This led to him leaving the tournament, but the International Chess Federation (FIDE) swiftly revised its rules to accommodate “elegant minor deviations” in players’ outfits, which now include the option of wearing jeans that complement a jacket.
Carlsen had been defending his titles when the issue arose. He explained to chess media outlet Take Take Take that after attending a lunch meeting, he quickly changed into a shirt and jacket, but didn’t consider the jeans he was wearing. After a few rounds of play, he was informed that he would be fined for his outfit and that he wouldn’t be allowed to continue unless he changed his trousers. Refusing to comply, Carlsen decided to leave, commenting that he was “too old at this point to care too much” and looking forward to a place with “a bit nicer weather.”
In response to the incident, FIDE swiftly altered the dress code, a change Carlsen acknowledged as a positive step, stating in an interview that he was pleased to return to the competition. FIDE’s adjustment allows for a more relaxed dress code, as long as the outfit is “elegantly” deviating from traditional norms.
FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich cautioned that this flexibility should not be taken advantage of, emphasising the importance of maintaining the “festive mood” of the tournament. Special assistants will now help referees determine whether a player’s attire meets the new criteria.
While the focus was on Carlsen’s return, the event also brings attention to the broader tension in the chess world, notably Carlsen’s ongoing feud with rival Hans Niemann, which led to a controversial cheating accusation in 2022. Despite that, Carlsen’s return to the championship is a welcome development for the chess community, according to the Federation, marking a step forward in both competitive fairness and flexibility.
