Magnus Carlsen, the World No. 1 in chess, is once again at the center of controversy. Over the past few months, he has been involved in multiple disputes, including FIDE’s ongoing conflict with the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, which he co-owns. However, one of the most talked-about incidents occurred during the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York.
Dress Code Dispute and Expulsion
During the Rapid Tournament, Carlsen clashed with FIDE officials over a dress code violation. He arrived wearing jeans, which did not comply with the tournament’s regulations. The arbiter fined him $200 and instructed him to change before the next round. Carlsen refused to do so immediately, stating that he would adhere to the dress code the following day. As a result, he was expelled from the competition. Although he was given the opportunity to return the next day if he complied with the rules, the Norwegian grandmaster chose to withdraw from the tournament, openly criticizing FIDE and its president, Arkady Dvorkovich.
‘JeansGate’ Auction for Charity
In a humorous turn of events, Carlsen has now decided to auction off the very pair of jeans that caused the controversy. He announced on social media:
“The forbidden jeans – can now be yours. I am auctioning my jeans. A sentence I never thought I would write. But here we are. All proceeds go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.”
The jeans, listed as “Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen’s #JeansGate Jeans,” have already received 35 bids, with the highest offer reaching approximately ₹6.93 lakhs. The listing has also attracted over 36,000 views and will remain open for bidding for 10 more days.
Carlsen’s Controversial Blitz Return and Recent Performances
Despite the dress code drama, Carlsen returned for the Blitz Tournament, though he was once again involved in controversy after he and the finalist shared the title under disputed circumstances. Following this, he competed in the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, finishing third after losing to Vincent Keymer in the semi-finals. Keymer went on to win the tournament, while India’s D Gukesh finished eighth.
Carlsen is also making strides in the 2025 Chessable Masters, having secured a spot in the Grand Final after a thrilling armageddon tiebreaker victory against India’s No. 2, Arjun Erigaisi.
With his competitive spirit and off-the-board antics, Carlsen continues to remain one of the most talked-about figures in the chess world.
