Magnus Carlsen, a multiple-time world champion and the current World Rapid and Blitz champion, faced disqualification from the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship held in Wall Street, New York, due to a violation of the dress code as stipulated by FIDE. The organization stated that Carlsen contravened the formal dress code by donning jeans, which are explicitly forbidden.

Initially, the Norwegian champion was fined $200 and subsequently instructed to change into formal attire immediately, a request he declined. Carlsen indicated his willingness to adhere to the dress code starting the following day but was not prepared to comply at that moment. Consequently, he was not assigned a pairing for Round 9, leading to his disqualification by FIDE Chief Arbiter Alex Holowzsak, who emphasized that the rules apply uniformly to all participants, regardless of their prominence.

"FIDE's regulations for the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, including the dress code, are established to maintain professionalism and fairness among all competitors.

"Today, Mr. Magnus Carlsen violated the dress code by wearing jeans, which are explicitly prohibited under the longstanding regulations for this event. The Chief Arbiter notified Mr. Carlsen of this violation, imposed a $200 fine, and requested a change of attire. Unfortunately, Mr. Carlsen refused, resulting in his exclusion from round nine. This decision was made impartially and is applicable to all players," FIDE stated in an official announcement.

The statement also referenced Ian Nepomniachtchi, who was fined for a similar dress code infraction for wearing sports shoes instead of formal footwear but was permitted to continue in the tournament after changing into the appropriate attire.

"Earlier in the day, another participant, Mr. Ian Nepomniachtchi, was also fined for violating the dress code by wearing sports shoes. However, Mr. Nepomniachtchi complied, changed into the approved attire, and continued to participate in the tournament."

The dress code guidelines are formulated by the FIDE Athletes Commission, which includes professional players and specialists in the field. These regulations have been established for several years and are familiar to all participants, with notifications provided prior to each event. Additionally, FIDE has taken measures to ensure that players' accommodations are located within a short walking distance from the competition venue, facilitating compliance with the regulations.

FIDE continues to uphold its dedication to advancing chess and its principles, which encompass respect for the rules that all participants commit to observing.

No appeal, Carlsen calls FIDE stupid

In a bold declaration against FIDE, Carlsen criticized the organization's regulations as "stupid."

"I am quite fatigued with FIDE, and I wish to distance myself from them entirely. I apologize to everyone back home; perhaps this is a foolish stance, but I find it unenjoyable," Carlsen stated in an interview with the Norwegian broadcasting network NRK.

Subsequently, during a conversation with the YouTube channel 'Take Take Take', Carlsen elaborated on the recent developments.

"Yesterday proved to be a challenging day. I lost one game and could have easily lost a few more. Overall, my performance was subpar, and I felt somewhat out of control," he remarked.

"I had a restful night and enjoyed a pleasant lunch meeting prior to my arrival here. I barely had time to return to my room and change, so I simply put on a shirt and jacket. Honestly, I did not even consider my jeans.

"I even switched my shoes, yet that detail escaped my mind. Upon my arrival, I received a warning—whether it was after the first or second game, I cannot recall exactly. 

"However, I was informed that I would face a fine initially, followed by a warning that I would not be paired for the next game unless I changed my jeans immediately. They mentioned I could do so after the third round.

"I suggested that I could change tomorrow if that was acceptable, as I had not realized the issue today. They insisted that I needed to change right away.

"At that moment, it became a matter of principle for me."

When asked if he had filed an appeal, the former world champion replied, "No, I have not appealed. To be honest, I feel too old to be overly concerned about this."

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