After world number one Magnus Carlsen was penalized for wearing jeans to an event in New York, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) loosened its dress policy for participants on Sunday.
At the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday, the 34-year-old Norwegian was requested to change.
The FIDE reported that five-time world chess champion Carlsen was fined $200 (192 euros) for refusing to change out of his pants.
“Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much,” he said after withdrawing from the competition.
“Nobody wants to back down… I’ll probably head off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer than here.”
Announcing the change in policy world chess boss Arkadi Dvorkovitch said: “I took the decision to trial an approach to provide more flexibility to FIDE officials in judgements regarding the suitability of the attire.
“The principle is simple: it is still required to follow the official dress-code, but elegant minor deviations (that may, in particular, include appropriate jeans matching the jacket) are allowed.”
Carlsen, the reigning champion in both the rapid and blitz chess competitions, pulled out of the rapid section of the competition but may now return for the blitz event which starts on Tuesday.
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