Magnus Carlsen’s protest pays off as FIDE finally approves jeans in chess events

FIDE, the global body for chess, has finally made changes to its dress code rule months after the jeans controversy involving five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen. Earlier this year, Carlsen quit the rapid leg of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York after he was fined and barred from participating for wearing jeans to the venue.

However, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has now relaxed the rule and said that players can wear “appropriate jeans’ in black, blue, or grey from September’s FIDE Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss events. FIDE said that the change offers “more comfort and freedom of choice, while ensuring that the overall appearance of the event remains professional and respectful.”

“FIDE took the decision to provide more flexibility in the dress code. It is still required to follow the official standards, but elegant, appropriate jeans are also allowed. FIDE, chess players, arbiters, and officials must collectively strive to preserve the integrity of chess while also ensuring that the sport remains appealing to the audience and sponsors,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said.

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What happened in the Carlsen jeans controversy?

Carlsen walked out of the World Rapid midway when FIDE asked him to change his jeans. The World No. 1 said that he hadn’t even noticed he was wearing jeans and had only changed his shirt and shoes before coming to the venue. However, FIDE asked him to change his attire and even threatened not to pair him with an opponent. Carlsen refused to oblige and quit the event.

He did play the Blitz event later on and even shared the title with Ian Nepomniachtchi. Carlsen then auctioned off the jeans he wore that day for over Rs 31 lakh online, making headlines all over the chess world.

Meanwhile, Carlsen is not playing in the 2025 Grand Swiss, but the tournament will still see some of the world’s best including India’s Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and international stars like Alireza Firouzja, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Anish Giri. In the women’s event, India’s Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Harika Dronavalli, and Vantika Agrawal will take part.