World-Renowned Chess Player Magnus Carlsen Returns to Tournament After Being Fined, Denied Participation for Wearing Jeans

Mar. 15, 2025

Magnus Carlsen.Photo:Dipayan Bose/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

Dipayan Bose/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

Top-ranked Carlsen, 34, officially headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday, Dec. 30, following a loosening of the dress code — which previously resulted in him being fined $200 and denied participation in the later round of another tournament, theAssociated Pressreported.

On Friday, Dec. 27, the Norwegian grandmaster showed up to the Rapid World Championship wearing jeans and a sports jacket. However, per the chess federation, jeans are prohibited at those tournaments and participants are expected to change. Still, according to the outlet, Carlsen refused and was not paired for a game in the ninth round.

Magnus Carlsen in New York City on Dec. 27, 2024.Misha Friedman/Getty

Misha Friedman/Getty

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In a statement issued following the incident on Sunday, Dec. 29, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said he would now allow World Blitz Championship tournament officials to consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code, the AP reported.

Dvorkovich acknowledged that Carlsen’s dress code pushback brought to light the need for the organization “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.”

He then questioned whether a rule was broken, maintaining that changing clothes would have disrupted his concentration on the tournament, according to the publication. He further slammed the punishment for refusing to change out of his jeans as “unbelievably harsh.”

Carlsen previously explained that chess officials refused to budge despite offering to wear something different the following day of the tournament.

Carlsen said he then decided to quit both the Rapid and Blitz championships because “it became a bit of a matter of principle.”

source: people.com