Reigning world chess champion Magnus Carlsen has shaken up the chess world again, first by pulling out of the 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships because of the ongoing strife between him and the organizers of the tournament over attire.
The drama unfolded during the prestigious event when Carlsen showed up in jeans, which certainly did not meet the required standard of professional attire as cited by FIDE’s dress code. Although the fine details of the dress code are not clear, denim has the appearance of being generally discouraged.
Despite wearing a formal shirt, jacket, and dress shoes, Carlsen was fined $200 by Chief Arbiter Alex Holowczak and told to change immediately. Carlsen said he would make adjustments for the next day but refused, on principle, to comply on the spot.
Faced with the ultimatum, the five-time World Rapid Chess Champion had bowed out of both events.
FIDE justified the decision by stating that the dress code is part of what holds the sport together in integrity and professionalism, adding that the rules are applied across the board.
An exasperated Carlsen said, “I am pretty tired of FIDE, so I want no more of this. I don’t want anything to do with them.” He then took a potshot at the governing body’s rules by posting a picture of himself in jeans on social media.
The whole incident has triggered a very heated chess debate: while some admire his stand against what they believe are obsolete rules, others see the damage his moves caused to the competition itself and disrespect to the organizers.
It has put center stage a debate about a trade-off between tradition and progress in professional chess. “A lot of people argue that the dress code really needs to be updated if chess wants to get young blood, more modern people,” said WGM Tatev Abrahamyan. Some insist it is part of the sport’s history that needs to be retained. Atop of that, Carlsen’s withdrawal is another case expressing signs toward where the increasing tensions between a bloc of top players and federation-like FIDE are further nurtured. It is exemplary among those reminding one of complicated relations between players and their institutions, especially in what concerns rule enforcement.
