The player’s shock withdrawal prompted the International Chess Federation to relax a dress code that penalized him for wearing jeans to a New York tournament.

The world’s No 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen will return to the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York after initially withdrawing as he refused to change out of a pair of jeans. The 34-year-old pulled out from the World Rapid Championship on Friday after breaching the dress code and opting not to change his attire.

Magnus Carlsen, the No. 1 ranked chess player, quit the World Rapid Chess Championship in New York on Friday after refusing to change out of jeans to conform to a strict dress code.

Magnus Carlsen has sensationally returned to a New York chess tournament after the governing body backed down in a row over the champion’s jeans. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The International Chess Federation says top ranked player Magnus Carlsen has left the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships after refusing to change out of the jeans he wore to the competition

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen played his first match at the World Blitz Championship after initially quitting the chess tournament due to a dress code dispute with organizers.

Carlsen quit after being barred from a round in the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship for wearing jeans

Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York on Friday, where he was defending his title, when he was told he could not continue playing while wearing je