Magnus Carlsen has been disqualified from the World Rapid Chess Championship in New York for violating the dress code.
Player of the world ranking no. 1 refused to change into jeans after being warned, leading to his disqualification before the ninth round.
FIDE (World Chess Federation) has since issued a statement explaining its decision and how the dress code is in place to ensure professionalism.
Carlsen himself has since issued his own statement.
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“I said I’d change tomorrow… but they said you have to change now, it’s become a matter of principle for me, so here we are! Honestly, I’m too old to care too much at this point. If this is what they want to do I’ll probably go somewhere with a bit nicer weather,” he said.
Carlsen has also withdrawn from the World Blitz, which starts on December 30. He had little chance of retaining his World Rapid Championship title after scoring 5/8 in the first eight rounds.
It was the first time ever that the World Rapid Championship was held in the United States.
The event features two distinct formats: Rapid, where each player has 15 minutes per game plus a 10-second increment per turn starting at the very first, and Blitz, with just three minutes per player per game and a two-second increment. increment per turn.
Carlsen is a former five-time Rapid champion and seven-time Blitz champion. He won 64 major titles during his illustrious career.
