The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced that it will ease the dress code and allow "elegant minor deviations" from the official list of acceptable clothing. This is stated in a statement by the FIDE president regarding the rapid chess and blitz championships, UNN reports.
Details
"With regard to the application of the rules during the World Blitz Championships, based on consultations with our partners and their preferences, I have decided to trial an approach to give FIDE officials more flexibility in judging the suitability of clothing. Special assistants will be invited to assist in these judgments and to make final determinations if there is any doubt. The principle is simple: the official dress code is still required, but elegant minor deviations are allowed (e.g., matching jeans to match a jacket). After all, it is a new year, and I sincerely hope that no one will try to spoil the festive mood, including by abusing this additional flexibility," said FIDE President Andrey Dvorkovich.
The world's number one chess player Magnus Carlsen has announced that he will return to participate in a major chess competition after the sport's governing body agreed to relax the dress code, the BBC reports.
The 34-year-old said he would return to the competition on Monday and continue to play in jeans.
Addendum
Carlsen left the World Rapid Chess and Blitz Championship in New York on Friday, where he was defending his title, when he was told he could not continue to play in jeans.
Carlsen, a five-time chess champion, was fined $200 last week for violating the tournament's dress code.