 "Magnus Carlsen has listed his infamous jeans at an auction site for a huge sum. Image: Carlsen/X")
Magnus Carlsen , the World No. 1 chess grandmaster, has once again made headlines, this time, not for his moves on the board but for an unusual auction that captivated fans worldwide. The Norwegian chess icon’s infamous jeans, which sparked controversy during the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championships, have been sold for an astonishing Rs 31 lakh ($36,100).
The ‘jeansgate’ scandal that shook the chess world
The jeans in question came under the spotlight after Carlsen found himself embroiled in a dress code dispute at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York last December. During the Rapid rounds, Carlsen arrived wearing jeans, a violation of FIDE’s official dress code. While Carlsen initially agreed to comply the next day, he ultimately chose to withdraw from the event in protest after tournament officials fined him and asked him to change immediately.
The controversy, dubbed ‘jeansgate’ in the media, dominated chess discussions for weeks. FIDE eventually softened its stance, allowing Carlsen to return for the Blitz rounds while wearing jeans, but the incident left a lasting impact.
The auction of Carlsen’s infamous jeans
Over a month after the incident, Carlsen decided to put the jeans up for auction , announcing the move on social media with a tongue-in-cheek message:
“The forbidden jeans - can now be yours. I am auctioning my jeans. A sentence I never thought I would write. But here we are.”
He further clarified that all proceeds from the auction would go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, a charity that supports youth mentorship.
Initially listed at Rs 6.93 lakh ($8,000), the auction attracted massive attention from fans, collectors, and even casual chess enthusiasts. The bid eventually closed at an eye-watering Rs 31 lakh.
As far as Carlsen’s workfront is concerned, the Norwegian grandmaster was last seen in action during the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025, where he secured the third place after beating Javokhir Sindarov. Vincent Keymer won the title over Fabiano Caruana in the final. The second leg of the Chess960 tournament will be held in Paris from 8 to 15 April, where Carlsen will be playing.