Courtesy: Google
Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen has confirmed his return to the World Blitz Championship in New York City on Sunday, December 29, following the decision of FIDE, the governing body of chess, to relax the dress code rule. Just a couple of days ago, the officials didn’t pair Magnus Carlsen in round nine of the World Rapid Championship after he refused to change out jeans for formal clothing on multiple occasions, getting fined $200, and in response, he decided to give the Blitz tournament a miss.
Following the dramatic turn of events, Magnus Carlsen spoke with Levy Rozman in an exclusive for the Take Take Take App, pointing out that while he isn’t quite in agreement with FIDE on a lot of things, he was okay with them enforcing the dress code rule strictly in New York City. But at the same time, he was quoted as saying, as per Indian Express, “I’m out. Like, f*** you. I don’t think anything more has to be said. Okay.”
Oh, I am definitely playing in jeans tomorrow: Magnus Carlsen
After some backroom discussion with FIDE regarding the dress code rule enforced in the World Rapid & Blitz Championships in New York City, Magnus Carlsen got the officials to relax the prior ruling, which had led to him getting fined apart from being excluded from the Rapid edition of the tournament. Following that, he took to his official X account on X with yet another witty comment on the situation, and wrote, “Oh, I am definitely playing in jeans tomorrow”.
In his reaction to the Magnus Carlsen controversy, the President of FIDE, Arkady Dvorkovich said that the officials of the World Rapid & Blitz Championships are now going to consider allowing the players to wear “appropriate jeans.” He also said that the stand taken by Magnus Carlsen against the dress code rule, which had also culminated in his withdrawal from the Rapid edition, showcased the need for more discussions, ensuring that chess becomes a global and accessible sport.
Due to this saga, Magnus Carlsen was unable to defend the World Rapid Championship title, which was eventually won by Russian GM Volodar Murzin, who is just 18 years of age.
