In brief
Carlsen, the reigning champion, abruptly withdrew from the tournament after tournament officials demanded he change out of his jeans. The 34-year-old grandmaster, who had been playing in a smart outfit yet wore jeans, was informed that this did not comply with the federation's dress code, which aims to maintain professionalism in the tournament. Although Carlsen offered to alter his attire for the next day, officials insisted on an immediate change. This led the chess legend to step away from the competition rather than comply, stating he felt too old to stress over such matters. He later shared a photo of his outfit on social media, indicating that he had worn jeans to a lunch meeting shortly before the tournament without reconsidering the dress requirement. Carlsen, who previously had a high-profile cheating dispute with fellow player Hans Niemann, remains a central figure in chess despite the controversy surrounding him.
