World chess number one Magnus Carlsen announced his return to play in this year’s final World Blitz Championship after the International Chess Federation (FIDE) conceded “elegant minor deviations” during tournaments.
Renowned chess player Magnus Carlsen’s has announced his return to play in the upcoming World Blitz Championship — a U-turn from a few days prior after he withdrew from another event organised by the FIDE after a dress code disagreement.
The 34-year-old grandmaster is the most decorated player in this high-speed chess format where each player has 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move, with seven world titles since 2013.
Previously, the Norwegian had been fined $200 (€191) and barred from competing in a round of another major FIDE tournament for refusing to change out of jeans during the event.
Although Carlsen offered to wear formal trousers the following day FIDE officials insisted on immediate compliance, prompting his withdrawal.
“Long story short: We can talk about how it got there, but I am playing at least one more day in New York, and if I do well, another day after that,” Carlsen said on Monday on his chess app Take Take Take.
FIDE stated that its dress code regulations are designed to “ensure fairness and professionalism for all participants.”
The organisation said another grandmaster, Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined for wearing sports shoes but complied by changing his footwear and continued playing without further issues.
Carlsen, however, explained that his situation stemmed from a scheduling challenge as he had a lunch meeting before playing and rushed to get ready.
“I was about to basically book my flight ticket to leave [after his withdrawal]. My father suggested we wait until morning to make a decision and speak with FIDE President Dvorkovich.”
Jeans are now allowed
The resolution reportedly followed extensive discussions involving Dvorkovich and FIDE deputy president Viswanathan Anand, who competed for the World Chess Championship against Carlsen twice.
The federation said it was open to a more flexible approach to attire in a bid to defuse tension with Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in chess history who held the classical World Champion title from 2013 until 2023, when he chose not to defend it.
“I sincerely regret that this situation escalated without a resolution being found in time to prevent Magnus’s withdrawal,” said in a statement FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich publicly expressing regret over the earlier conflict.
To prevent future incidents, FIDE has introduced a trial policy granting officials greater discretion regarding dress code enforcement.
“The principle is simple: it is still required to follow the official dress code, but elegant minor deviations—such as appropriate jeans matching a jacket—are allowed,” Dvorkovich explained.
He added that this additional flexibility should not be abused by players.
A ‘denim-gambit’?
Some observers and chess enthusiasts have speculated that the dispute reflects deeper tensions between Carlsen and FIDE.
The 34-year-old Norwegian has been at the forefront of promoting “freestyle chess,” a variant where the starting positions of back-row pieces are randomised, eliminating traditional opening theory.
Carlsen, alongside other players, has launched the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour for 2025 — a private initiative featuring events in Germany, France, the United States, India, and South Africa entirely outside FIDE’s purview.
Initially, FIDE threatened sanctions against players participating in the freestyle circuit, including exclusion from classical World Championship cycles.
However, the conflict was resolved shortly before the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, with both sides agreeing to coexist. “Players will not be affected in any way. They can decide on their own, and FIDE will not take any negative action,” Dvorkovich clarified.
While his career has not been without controversy—including a high-profile legal dispute only recently resolved in which he accused another player of cheating— Carlsen remains a legend of the game and continues to shape the future of chess, both on and off the board.
