Chess champion Magnus Carlsen has quit a world championship event in New York after being fined and threatened with exclusion for breaching the dress code by wearing jeans.
Carlsen was asked to change his clothes on Friday at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships after falling foul of the governing body鈥檚 regulations.
The chess federation, FIDE, said Carlsen rejected the opportunity to switch out of his jeans, and he was issued a fine of $200.
In a statement, FIDE said its rules 鈥榓re designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.鈥櫬犅�
It cited the case of another competitor who was fined for wearing sports shoes but allowed to continue after changing into appropriate footwear.
Carlsen, 34, is a five-time world chess champion. The Norwegian is also the reigning champion in both the rapid and blitz chess competitions.
鈥業 put on a shirt, jacket and honestly like I didn鈥檛 even think about jeans, even changed my shoes,鈥� Carlsen told the chess channel Take Take Take.聽
鈥楩irst of all, I got a fine which is fine, and then I got a warning that I would not be paired if I didn鈥檛 go change my clothes. They said that I could do it after the third round today.
鈥業 said 鈥淚鈥檒l change tomorrow if that鈥檚 OK, I didn鈥檛 even realise it today鈥�, but they said, 鈥淲ell you have to change now.鈥� At that point it became a bit of a matter of principle for me.鈥�
Carlsen said he would not appeal the decision.
鈥楬onestly, I am too old at this point to care too much,鈥� he said.
鈥楴obody wants to back down... I鈥檒l probably head off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer than here.鈥�
