After the jeans dispute is settled, Carlsen will return to the chess championship

Magnus Carlsen to Return to Major Chess Competition Following Dress Code Relaxation

The world’s number one chess player, Magnus Carlsen, will rejoin a major chess competition after the sport’s governing body, FIDE, agreed to relax its dress code. Carlsen had quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York on Friday when he was told he could not continue playing in jeans.

FIDE announced it would now permit “elegant minor deviations” from its official dress code, which previously did not allow jeans. The 34-year-old grandmaster, who was fined $200 (£159) for breaching the dress code, stated he will return to the competition on Monday and continue to wear jeans.

Carlsen, a five-time chess champion, explained he had been wearing jeans for a lunch meeting and didn’t think to change for the tournament. He had already played several rounds in a shirt, blazer, and jeans before being informed of the dress code violation.

FIDE’s dress code for the championships requires men to wear “dark coloured trousers,” but jeans are not permitted if business casual dress is mandated. Carlsen offered to change his trousers for the next day but was told he needed to change immediately, which he refused, prompting his withdrawal from the competition.

In response to the incident, FIDE President Arkadi Dvorkovitch announced the dress code change, stating, “It is still required to follow the official dress code, but elegant minor deviations (that may, in particular, include appropriate jeans matching the jacket) are allowed.” Tournament staff will help judge whether outfits meet the relaxed code, ensuring the festive mood of the tournament is maintained.

Carlsen confirmed his return in a social media post on Sunday, saying, “Oh, I am definitely playing in jeans tomorrow.” FIDE’s original dress code aimed to “ensure fairness and professionalism for all participants.”

Carlsen, a high-profile and sometimes controversial figure in chess, became a grandmaster at 13 and has often been seen as a maverick. In 2023, he settled a legal dispute after accusing American rival Hans Niemann of cheating following an unexpected defeat in 2022. Niemann denied the allegations and filed a $100m (£79m) defamation lawsuit, which was settled out of court. Carlsen has since accepted that Niemann did not cheat.