The multiple world champion and reigning world rapid and blitz title holder has been disqualified from the 2024 FIDE Rapid and Blitz World Championship which will take place on Saturday in Wall Street, New York.
Carlsen was not matched for the Rapid Round 9 after violating the FIDE dress code for the event.
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The Norwegian was fined $200 for wearing jeans before head referee Alex Holowzsak disqualified him for repeated violations.
Carlsen also confirmed that he would not be competing in the Blitz section of the event.
“I’m pretty tired of FIDE, so I don’t want it anymore. I don’t want anything to do with them. I’m sorry to everyone at home, maybe it’s a stupid principle, but I don’t think it’s fun,” Carlsen told the Norwegian broadcaster. NRK.
“I said I don’t want to bother changing now, but I can change until tomorrow, that’s fine.” But they didn’t want to compromise. I’ve reached a point where I’m pretty angry at FIDE, so I didn’t want to either. So that’s how it happens,” he added.
Magnus Carlsen vs. Brewington Hardaway at the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Championship. | Photo credit: FIDE/Michał Walusza
Magnus Carlsen vs. Brewington Hardaway at the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Championship. | Photo credit: FIDE/Michał Walusza
Carlsen then gave an interview to Take Take Take where he said: “I said I would change tomorrow… but they said you have to change now and it became a matter of principle for me so here we are!” Honestly, I’m too old at this point to care too much. If that’s what they want to do, I’ll probably go somewhere where the weather is a little nicer.
“I don’t know if this has happened in the past or not. But you know, there was this whole thing where FIDE was actively wanting, they were also going after players to get them to not sign with Freestyle, basically threatening them that they wouldn’t be able to participate in the World Championship cycle, if they played freestyle,” he added.
“Honestly, my patience with them wasn’t very great at first. And that’s okay. They can enforce their rules. That suits me. And my answer is fine, so I’m leaving. Like, fuck you. I don’t think we need to say more,” Carlsen said.
FIDE, the sport’s governing body, released a statement on the entire situation.
“The dress code regulations are drafted by members of the FIDE Athletes’ Commission, composed of professional players and experts. These rules have been in force for years and are well known to all participants and are communicated to them before each event. FIDE has also ensured that player accommodation is within a short walking distance of the playing venue, making compliance with the rules more convenient,” FIDE said in a statement released on X.
The statement added: “FIDE remains committed to promoting chess and its values, including respect for the rules that all participants agree to follow.”
Carlsen, gold medalist in the Rapid and Blitz sections at Samarkand 2023, has not had the best of starts during this period. After eight rounds, he had five points thanks to three wins, four draws and one loss.
India’s Arjun Erigaisi, Russia’s Alexander Grischuk and Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda led the pack in the open section with 6.5 points each after the eighth round.
