The International Chess Federation announced greater “flexibility” in the clothing allowed during the World Championship, a relaxation that allows Norwegian champion Magnus Carlsen, who was punished for wearing jeans, to return to competition.
“I have decided to test an approach aimed at giving FIFA officials more flexibility in their judgments regarding the appropriateness of clothing,” said the president of the Russian International Federation, Arkady Dvorkovich, in a statement.
“In practice, it is always necessary to respect the formal dress code, but simple elegant deviations (which can, in particular, include jeans matched with a jacket) are allowed,” he added.
The clothing of the Grand Masters participating in the Blitz World Championship in New York has caused a lot of water to flow since Magnus Carlsen, the chess legend and the best player in the world rankings, announced his withdrawal from the fast-paced competition on Friday after being punished for wearing jeans. He was fined $200 (about 191 euros) and then banned from participating in a round (when all participants play in one round).
The very upset Norwegian confirmed that he will not return on Saturday to compete in the third and final day of the World Speed Championships, nor for the blitz competition, Tuesday and Wednesday, for which he holds the title.
“My father said maybe we should wait until the next day and talk to the president of the International Federation,” Carlsen said on Sunday to the chess platform Take Take Take, which he co-created. “We don’t want people to apply to participate in tournaments without making any effort,” he said. Effortless” in clothes.
He explained that he “accepts” the fine but claims that he made a “mistake” in wearing jeans because he was returning from a meal and forgot to change his clothes.
Carlsen opposed the International Federation on a number of points: he refused to participate in the World Long Games Championship, its most prestigious title, because he complained about its system, and he invested in a variant of chess, Chess 960, with the aim of creating a parallel tournament.
During the previous edition, at the end of 2023, the International Federation imposed a fine of 100 euros on the Dutch player Anna-Maia Kazarian, because her shoes were not considered to comply with the regulations. She was forced to change her “sneakers” and wear high-heeled shoes.
Wearing sneakers is still not allowed this year.
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