Magnus Carlsen Sparks Drama at World Rapid and Blitz Championships

 

The chess world never seems to run out of controversy, and this time, it’s Magnus Carlsen making headlines. The World No. 1 was disqualified from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships for breaking FIDE’s dress code by wearing jeans.

 

Initially fined $200, Carlsen was asked to switch to formal attire immediately. However, he declined, stating he had agreed to comply starting Saturday but couldn’t do so at that moment. As a result, he was not paired for Round 9 and later disqualified, with FIDE emphasizing that rules apply to all players equally.

 

In response to the uproar, FIDE clarified on social media that Carlsen was not banned from the tournament and could resume play the next day if he chose to. This incident has added another layer of drama to the chess community, known for its share of off-board controversies.