Magnus Carlsen fined for wearing jeans; chess federation relaxes dress code

The International Chess Federation (Fide) has relaxed its dress code for players after world No 1 Magnus Carlsen was fined for wearing jeans at an event in New York.

The 34-year-old Norwegian was asked to change his clothes last Friday local time at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.

Fide said Carlsen, a five-time world chess champion, rejected the opportunity to switch out of his jeans, and he was issued a fine of US$200 ($355).

Norway's chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. Photo / AFP

He subsequently withdrew from the competition saying: “Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much”.

“Nobody wants to back down ... I’ll probably head off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer than here.”

Announcing the change in policy, world chess boss Arkady Dvorkovitch said: “I took the decision to trial an approach to provide more flexibility to Fide officials in judgments regarding the suitability of the attire”.

“The principle is simple: 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.”

Carlsen, the reigning champion in both the rapid and blitz chess competitions, pulled out of the rapid section of the competition but may now return for the blitz event which starts on Wednesday NZT.