In December 2024, the chess world was rattled by a simple pair of jeans.
5-time world champion Magnus Carlsen had been disqualified from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York (held in Cipriani Wall Street) for violating FIDE's dress code by wearing a pair of jeans.
This tournament had enforced a stiff attire policy, where players were supposed to wear formal clothing — with no jeans allowed. After Round 8 of the Rapid Event (where Magnus had played and defeated fellow Norwegian chess grandmaster Aryan Tari), he was fined $200 and asked to change immediately. He had declined and said that he would change the next day, which FIDE did not accept, and then, as a result, Carlsen was not paired for Round 9 and later exited from the tournament.
This news had ignited lots of debate across the chess community, and they started calling it the "Jeansgate" incident. Many chess fans supported Magnus, saying that professionalism in chess should not be based on attire but on other factors like performance. Top-level players like Levon Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura, and Anish Giri defended Magnus and implied the absurdity of the incident and the unneeded strictness of FIDE, as dress codes are outdated in an age where chess is even celebrated online in casual attire. On the other hand, FIDE's supporters and some veteran chess players backed FIDE, saying this was a professional event and that simply adhering to the dress code could have avoided the drama.
Soon after, FIDE relaxed the dress code for the Blitz part of the championship (in which Magnus shared the title with Ian Nepomniachtchi). This incident made people think deeply about whether the outside casual environment should affect the intricate game of chess.
In my opinion, Magnus was right to do what he did. Though it was an elite event, rules need not be that strict — after all, jeans are comfortable, and comfort is key for concentration. Who knows, you might win the cup because of it! FIDE also did a good job relaxing the rule after the Rapid event. Now, with fewer attire limits, the game of chess can reach many young talents and the next generation with ease.
You might think the case ended there, but it had a humorous ending. In February 2025, Magnus auctioned the jeans on eBay (labeled #JeansGate Jeans), and they were sold on March 1, 2025, for a whopping $36,100 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a charity supporting youth mentorship programs. This just goes to show that even tense drama can unfold in a calm and humorous way.
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