Carlsen Withdraws from Chess Championship over Dress Code

Magnus Carlsen, the five-time world chess champion, withdrew from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships after being disqualified for wearing jeans, violating FIDE's dress code. Despite being fined and given a chance to change, Carlsen refused, citing principle, and expressed his dissatisfaction with FIDE's decision. The controversy has divided opinions in the chess community, with some supporting Carlsen's stance, including popular YouTuber MrBeast, while others emphasize the importance of adhering to established rules. FIDE maintained that the regulations were in place to ensure professionalism and fairness, with other players also being fined for dress code violations but complying with the rules. Carlsen, who had a challenging first day at the tournament, chose not to appeal the decision and instead decided to withdraw, stating he was too old to care about the consequences. This incident has further highlighted tensions between Carlsen and FIDE, as he has previously criticized the chess governing body.