Posted on 12/29/2024 12:31:48 PM PST by BenLurkin
Magnus Carlsen, the world's top chess player, has quit the World Rapid Chess Championship being held in New York after refusing to change out of jeans to abide by a dress code.
The Norwegian chess grandmaster was fined $200 on Friday and given a warning by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the governing body for international chess championships, to change into acceptable attire or be disqualified.
Five-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen says he will not defend his title World Five-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen says he will not defend his title Carlsen told chess channel Take Take Take that he'd been at a lunch meeting and arrived at the championship wearing a shirt, blazer and jeans and that he "didn't even think about" changing out of his jeans.
After receiving the fine, "I said I'll change tomorrow," Carlsen said. "But they said you have to change now. It became a matter of principle for me so here we are."
Carlsen's decision to withdraw from the World Rapid Championship means he will be unable to defend his title in that event, which he has won five times previously. His withdrawal also means he will not be able to defend his title in the World Blitz Championship, scheduled to take place afterward. Carlsen is a seven-time champion in blitz chess. The move opens the door for other top players to claim the prestigious titles.
In a statement, FIDE said that its regulations, including its dress code, are "designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants."
It said that jeans "are explicitly prohibited under long-standing regulations for this event" and that FIDE's decision "was made impartially and applies equally to all players.
FIDE pointed out that another player, Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, had earlier been fined for wearing sports shoes in contravention of the dress code, but that he "complied, changed into approved attire, and continued to play in the tournament."
Carlsen told Take Take Take that he doesn't plan to appeal the decision. "Honestly I'm too old at this point to care too much. If this is what they want to do I'll probably set off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer," he said.
Carlsen, 34, became a grandmaster at age 13. In 2022, he resigned a game with fellow grandmaster Hans Niemann after a single move and subsequently accused the player of cheating. A judge later dismissed a $100 million defamation lawsuit filed by Niemann against Carlsen, according to Chess.com.
How is it possible to cheat at chess, period? It’s not like you can sneak extra pieces onto the board or use some gizmo to read your opponent’s mind, so how do you cheat, exactly?
You cheat by getting move analysis from outside sources - either by radio transmissions or access to information in the rest areas. Like the way Kamala handled debates. :)
The alleged cheating took place in an earlier game against that opponent, which Magnus played out to a loss.
Magnus played a rare opening that day, and Niemann had clearly prepared a novel defense no one had used before.
The suspicion was that someone tipped off Niemann about the opening Magnus would use.
Niemann claimed that he just randomly prepared to face that opening, which really is hard to believe.
Also, this was not the first time players had suggested Niemann was cheating.
Nieman has made several brilliant moves without showing the intensity and stress that other great chess players would need to find an original over the board move.
well.. bye.
“How is it possible to cheat at a venued accredited tournament with both officials and spectators watching?”
Hidden electronic devices
Signals from a partner in the audience
“Sorry, he’s changed his mind this morning and will compete in the tournament with appropriate wear.”
He didn’t change his mind. Jeans are allowed with dress jacket.
Wasn’t there an issue not too long ago where a chess player was accused of having some vibrating device up his keister to transmit vibrations to help him play better or something?
Interesting info about Nieman. Thanks for that.
Either way, Magnus is repeating the same criticisms of FIDE that Fischer and Kasparov have voiced before him. It is an ossified and corrupt bureaucracy like the IOC that is not run for the benefit of the players.
Yes, he did change his mind. He said yesterday he was not going to compete in the tournament. He talked with his father last night who said think it over before committing one way or another. He was going to buy airplane tickets and leave town but this morning he decided to stay on and play. This will hurt him because I believe he will be dinged a game he didn’t play yesterday. That will make it difficult for him to overcome.
This is a rapid/blitz championship. I think many chess players don’t think of it as being the REAL chess championship. It’s a variant, like blindfold chess or Fischer random.
I haven’t followed this story. I barely followed the recent World Championship where an Indian defeated the reigning World Champion who was from China. Most of the top players seem to be well-adjusted, have manners and follow proper etiquette.
The thing that strikes me about Magnus is that he has been so good for so long, that there is little for him to fight for. People used to say that if he entered a tournament, there would be a fight for second place.
I think if he works hard, he will win. He’s gotten tired of working hard. Now perhaps, he’s just trying to have a little more fun (while pulling in a little more loot).
I vaguely recall that now.
I do recall the scene in the film Goodfellas where DE Niro and crew discovered a pair of fellas cheating them on the gaming floor with a clicker device radio transmitter and receiver; one guy looking at the dealers hands. They took care of business.
What’s their policy on Trans-Women?
I was amused.
“Yes, he did change his mind. He said yesterday he was not going to compete in the tournament.”
He said yesterday that he would not wear his jeans today if they let him play in jeans yesterday.
Meanwhile the judges decided that jeans were OK if worn with a dress outfit so he showed up in jeans again today.
He resigned after one move because he though Niemann had cheated in a previous game with him and wouldn’t play him.
They have a big batch of very good chess players running games on computers with varying moves/stratagies. Electronic comms then relay moves into the player or via audience. It’s crazy but every sport / game … has cheaters.
Is there enough money or vanity in this to warrant such shenanigans?
But not enought to force metal detectors, wanding, and xrays to ferret out such buggery?
If he doesn’t want to play that’s ok.
If he changes his mind later that’s ok too.
Carlsen does things his way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.