Magnus Carlsen Returns to World Blitz Championship After Dress Code Dispute

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen made headlines once again as he returned to the World Blitz Championship after a dramatic exit from the World Rapid Chess Championship due to a dress code dispute with organizers. Carlsen initially quit the tournament after refusing to change out of his jeans, which violated the tournament’s dress code set by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

However, after “fruitful” conversations with FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and the main tournament sponsor, Carlsen decided to participate in the Blitz competition. Despite insisting on continuing to wear jeans, Carlsen arrived slightly late to his first round match against German grandmaster Michael Bezold but ultimately emerged victorious.

The 34-year-old was fined $200 for wearing jeans during the rapid tournament and was asked to change by the Chief Arbiter, but he declined, citing a lack of time to change after a lunch meeting. This led to a standoff with FIDE, resulting in Carlsen’s decision to walk away from the rapid tournament as a “matter of principle.”

In response to the controversy, FIDE announced changes to the dress code rules for the upcoming blitz tournament, allowing for more flexibility in attire judgments. President Dvorkovich expressed regret over the situation and acknowledged the need for modernizing the approach to ensure the rules reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global sport.

Carlsen, who has a history of clashes with FIDE, admitted to having some choice words for the organization but also recognized the mishandling of the situation. The ongoing saga between Carlsen and FIDE highlights the ongoing discussions about the future of chess and the need for updated regulations to accommodate the changing landscape of the sport.