A dress code for the field

When sportswear rules are a clash between image, identity & inclusion

- VAISHALI DAR

WE ALL KNOW of the infamous Jeans-gate controversy last year when Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen was fined and briefly disqualified from the International Chess Federation's (FIDE) World Rapid Championship for wearing jeans, violating the dress code.

He protested by walking out, but later returned to play the event after FIDE relaxed rules. This incident led FIDE to officially update its dress code to allow "appropriate jeans" in future tournaments. But Carlsen had auctioned his jeans for charity and fetched $36,100 (approx %31.5 lakh) already.

But in an unexpected turn of events this month, FIDE has announced a significantly relaxed dress code for World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha in December, "allowing classic non-distressed jeans for both men and women", a year after the 'jeansgate’ storm involving Magnus Carlsen at the same event. The updated regulations from the world chess governing body now allow dark business-casual trousers "including classic, non-distressed jeans in blue, black or grey for both men and women" for the Doha event from December 25 to 30.

Suits, unicoloured shirts, dress shoes, loafers and unicoloured sneakers are also allowed for men, while women may wear skirt or pant suits, dresses, dark trousers including jeans, blouses and similar footwear, stated the FIDE dress code requirements. It also stated that clothing must be neat and free of rips, tears, offensive slogans or prohibited logos. T-shirts, shorts, baseball caps and beachwear remain banned.