Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen Quits Major Tournament Over Jeans: The Shocking Reason Behind His Decision!

Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top chess player, withdrew from a major tournament in New York City after being told he could not compete while wearing jeans. Carlsen, 34, was participating in the International Chess Federation (FIDE)’s World Blitz Chess Championship and the World Rapid Chess Championship, events he had won in both 2022 and 2023.

Carlsen has a storied history in these tournaments, having won the Blitz Chess Championship seven times and the Rapid Chess Championship five times over the past decade. The 2024 events began on Thursday, and Carlsen arrived at Friday’s sessions in jeans, which officials deemed “explicitly prohibited” under the federation’s regulations.

According to CBS News partner BBC News, Carlsen explained that he was coming from a lunch meeting and had already played several rounds before being informed that he needed to change his attire. The federation threatened him with a $200 fine and asked him to change his clothes. Carlsen offered to change for the next day but was refused.

This refusal led Carlsen to view the situation as a matter of principle, and he chose not to comply. As a result, he was not allowed to participate in the tournament’s ninth round, effectively disqualifying him from further competition. Carlsen stated that he would not appeal the decision.

Later, Carlsen posted a photo of himself in jeans, a blazer, and a blue shirt on social media, captioning it “OOTD” (outfit of the day). The federation emphasized in a statement that dress code rules are clearly communicated to participants before each event and are designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all players. They also noted that the events were within a short walking distance from the players’ accommodations, making it convenient for participants to adhere to the rules.

Earlier in the day, another player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined for wearing sports shoes, which breached the dress code. However, Nepomniachtchi changed his shoes and was permitted to continue playing in the tournament.

The tournament is set to conclude on Saturday. This incident is not the first time Carlsen has been involved in controversy. Previously, he accused American player Hans Niemann of cheating after Niemann defeated him in a tournament. A week later, during an online chess game between the two, Carlsen quit after just one move. Niemann, who had admitted to cheating in online games in the past, denied Carlsen’s allegations. Carlsen believed that Niemann had cheated more than he had admitted. The two eventually settled a $100 million lawsuit in August 2023.