NEW DELHI: 5-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen’s surprising withdrawal from the World Fast and Blitz Championships has drawn sharp reactions from throughout the chess neighborhood.
The controversy stemmed from Carlsen’s refusal to adjust to FIDE‘s costume code, which prohibits denims at event venues.
This defiance led to his disqualification from the ninth spherical regardless of being a defending champion and one of many favourites to carry the respective title.
FIDE deputy president and former world champion Viswanathan Anand, addressing the incident, emphasised the significance of adhering to the foundations.
READ: ‘We gave Magnus Carlsen greater than sufficient time to vary,’ clarifies FIDE CEO
Chatting with ChessBase India, Anand clarified that FIDE’s choice wasn’t private however strictly procedural.
“Clearly, it was not a step we needed to take. However we provided a number of choices,” Anand remarked.
In keeping with Anand, Chief Arbiter Alex Holowczak had approached Carlsen after the eighth spherical, asking him to vary into apparel that complied with event guidelines.
Regardless of being fined USD 200 for the violation, Carlsen refused to vary, citing rules.
“He mentioned that on precept he was not going to do it. He himself said that it was a matter of precept for him, and so the arbiter merely utilized the foundations and we supported that,” Anand revealed.
FIDE’s costume code, established by the Athletes Fee and well-publicised earlier than the event, was additionally defended by Anand.
The incident has been marred by hypothesis about underlying tensions between Carlsen and FIDE, notably given Carlsen’s earlier criticisms of the chess physique.
Nevertheless, Anand dismissed any such recommendations, stating, “There may be stuff happening behind, however I want to give attention to that we adopted the foundations and the truth that Magnus refused to comply with it, and it left us with little alternative. It’s not related to anything that is happening.”
With Carlsen’s withdrawal, the largest allure of the event has gone. Nevertheless, because the chess world digests this surprising flip of occasions, the main focus shifts again to the remaining rounds in fast chess earlier than kicking off the blitz leg.
