Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked chess player, faced an unexpected disqualification from the World Rapid Championship in New York due to a dress code violation. Carlsen, who refused to change out of jeans despite prior warnings, stood by his decision, stating it had become “a matter of principle.”
“I said I’d change tomorrow, but they demanded I do so immediately. Honestly, I’m too old to care much about this,” Carlsen remarked. Following his disqualification, he announced his withdrawal from the World Blitz Championship set to begin on December 30.
At the time of his removal, Carlsen had accumulated 5/8 points and trailed the tournament leaders by 1.5 points, making a title defense unlikely.
With Carlsen out, the competition tightened. After eight of 13 rounds, Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), Arjun Erigaisi (India), and Alexander Grischuk (Russia) were tied at the top with 6.5 points. Rising stars like Russia’s Volodar Murzin, who defeated prominent players such as Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, also made their mark.
In the Women’s World Rapid Championship, 15-year-old Alice Lee from the U.S. stunned with a perfect 4/4 start but faltered against reigning champion Ju Wenjun of China. Ju leads with 5.5/6, followed closely by Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland) and Kateryna Lagno (Russia).
Carlsen, a five-time World Rapid and seven-time World Blitz champion, had been a favorite entering the tournament. His dominance in the rapid format continued recently at the Champions Tour in Oslo, where he bested Ian Nepomniachtchi in a decisive 4-1 victory.
Despite his current setback, Carlsen’s extensive achievements include 64 major titles, a record unmatched by most, including India’s 18-year-old world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju.
The ongoing World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York mark the first time these events have been held in the U.S. With a $1 million prize pool, including $428,500 for the women’s categories, the tournaments have drawn 182 players in the open section and 113 in the women’s.
Beyond the chessboards, FIDE has organized the Wall Street Gambit, a conference exploring chess and finance, featuring a keynote by economist and grandmaster Kenneth Rogoff. Tickets for the event, including exclusive packages with blitz games and selfies with top players like Caruana, have already sold out.
Carlsen’s withdrawal shifts the spotlight to rising talents and established competitors vying for the coveted titles. Meanwhile, England’s chess stars, including teenage GM Shreyas Royal, focus on the Caplin Hastings Masters, which offers promising opportunities for upcoming players.
As Carlsen exits New York, he leaves with a message that underscores his principles and the complexities of maintaining professionalism in competitive chess. The incident serves as a reminder of the evolving dynamics of chess both on and off the board.
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