Dear chess fans,
this is really crazy!
In the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024 currently held in New York, the top seeded player and reigning Rapid Champion Magnus Carlsen was wearing jeans in round 7 and was warned by the arbiter. According to the dress code jeans are not allowed for whatever reason. Also Ian Nepomniachtchi did the same violation and got the same fine of 200$. But unlike Nepo, in the next round Magnus again wore jeans and the arbiter decided to create a scandal and did not pair him for round 9.
So Magnus´ chance to catch up in the rankings (he had a bad first day with only 2,5 out of 5 games) was severly hindered.
But Magnus decided to not play on and leave the tournament, here his reaction!
I agree with Magnus - to forfeit a game because of wearing jeans is more than ridiculous. Especially in the US where people wear whatever they want.
Maybe he was also fed up with his performance and used this as a way to exit the tournament. In any case FIDE did not show here any sensibility in dealing with the no.1 attraction of the tournament.
What do you think?
PS: Here is a longer interview with him:
And here the official statement of FIDE:
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I see it the same way like you. I think not cloths should matter (it's not a fashion show!) but the performance on the chess board (especially as jeans are something completely normal to wear).
A really ridiculous decision in my eyes.
There was something about fairness in the fide statement:
"FIDE regulations for the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, including the dress code, are designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants."
Maybe one of the opponents complained that he only lost to Magnus Carlssen because he was wearing jeans.
MAYBE TIME TO UPDATE: The long-standing regulations by the FIDE Athletes Commission...
What do you think?
I think that the main problem is that FIDE doesn't understand what it mean to be sport.
They want to have the benefits but they don't agree with general rules in sport.
This is even more clear in the case of Ian Nepomniachtchi - He played with sportsshoes - and what ?
If chess want to be a sport than why player cannot play with shoes who are designed for sport ?
I have never seen a footballer who stood on the pitch in fine thread, tie and the finest Sunday shoes.
"Also Ian Nepomniachtchi did the same violation and got the same fine of 200$"
Not exactly, the arbiter had no problem with the Trousers of Ian Nepomniachtchi but with his shoes.