Chess world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen has changed his mind about quitting the World Blitz Championship after initially walking away due to a dress code dispute with organizers. The Norwegian grandmaster had refused to change out of his jeans, which were deemed not in line with the tournament’s dress code.
However, after “fruitful” conversations with FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and main tournament sponsor, Carlsen announced he would participate in the competition starting on Monday in New York. Despite this, he reiterated that he will continue wearing his jeans.
Carlsen had been fined $200 for wearing jeans during the World Rapid Chess Championship and was asked to change by the Chief Arbiter. He declined, citing a “matter of principle.” FIDE initially defended Carlsen’s decision, stating that fellow competitor Ian Nepominatchi also breached the dress code but continued to play.
In response to the controversy, FIDE president Dvorkovich announced changes to the rules for the upcoming blitz tournament, allowing for more flexibility in interpreting the dress code. The new rule change includes permission for “elegant minor deviations” such as wearing jeans matching a jacket.
Carlsen has a history of clashing with FIDE over various issues, including dress codes and tournament formats. However, he toned down his criticism after an interview with chess channel Take Take Take on Sunday, stating that some comments were “imprecise.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/sport/magnus-carlsen-rejoin-chess-championships-spt/index.html