Magnus Carlsen, the top chess player in the world, has quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. He decided to leave after a disagreement about the tournament’s dress code. Carlsen, who has won the World Rapid Championship five times and the World Blitz Championship seven times, was fined $200 for refusing to change out of his jeans, which went against the rules set by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The Chief Arbiter warned Carlsen that if he didn’t follow the dress code, he would not be allowed to play in the remaining rounds. However, Carlsen chose to leave the tournament instead of changing. Speaking to the chess channel “Take Take Take,” he said it became a matter of principle for him. He also mentioned that he was surprised by the fine because he had come straight from lunch and hadn’t realized that wearing jeans would be a problem.
Carlsen’s exit is the latest in a series of disagreements with FIDE. He has criticized the organization for interfering with “Freestyle Chess,” a version of chess he supports, and he has expressed frustration with how FIDE is run. On its part, FIDE denied Carlsen’s claims and insisted that only they can approve events labeled as world championships.
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