Magnus Carlsen trolls FIDE after quitting 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship over dress code

Magnus Carlsen, the five-time Chess World Champion, caused a stir in the chess community after quitting the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship over a dress code violation. Carlsen was fined $200 for wearing jeans, which are explicitly prohibited under FIDE’s dress code regulations for the event. In a cheeky move, Carlsen posted a photo of his Outfit of the Day (OOTD) on social media, trolling the chess federation as his post went viral.

The incident unfolded when Carlsen, who was struggling with his performance in the tournament, was informed by the Chief Arbiter about the dress code breach. Despite being asked to change, Carlsen refused, turning the situation into a matter of principle. He later expressed his frustration, saying, “I said I’ll change tomorrow... but they said you have to change now. Honestly, I’m too old at this point to care too much.”

Carlsen’s decision to leave the tournament followed a series of disappointing results on the opening day, including a loss to Denis Lazavik. His performance continued to decline on the second day, and he cited this, along with the dress code issue, as his reasons for quitting.

In response to Carlsen’s exit, FIDE clarified that the dress code regulations were long-standing and applied equally to all participants. The chess governing body emphasized the importance of professionalism and fairness, noting that similar actions had been taken against other players, including Ian Nepomniachtchi, who was fined for wearing sports shoes but complied with the dress code.