Carlsen to play World Blitz after FIDE appeasement

Definitely playing in jeans, says world No. 1 after FIDE eases dress code rules to allow for "appropriate jeans matching jacket"

- Susan Ninan

BENGALURU: Two days after he announced his withdrawal midway through the World Rapid and Blitz tournament, world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen confirmed that he will play the blitz event after a truce with world body, Fide. Fined and unpaired in Round 9 by Fide for wearing jeans to the playing area on the second day of the rapid event, Carlsen had declared that he would not be playing the remainder of the tournament and had termed it as a feeling of "all-out war" with the governing body.

Following talks with Fide president Arkady Dvorkovich on Sunday, the tournament rest day, Carlsen said that he would play the blitz event and as a "matter of principle, I'm definitely playing in jeans." As part of its bending over backwards to appease Carlsen, Fide has eased the dress code rules, allowing "appropriate jeans matching the jacket".

"I'm playing at least one more day in New York and if I do well, another day as well," Carlsen told Take Take Take. "I love playing blitz and I want to give fans an opportunity to see. I don't know if it's going to be the last time...who knows. But for now, I'm here. There have been some slight alterations to the rules, and as a matter of principle I'm definitely playing in jeans tomorrow."