World Rapid: Carlsen quits, four leaders in the open

Jeans not allowed

The second day of the World Rapid Chess Championship in New York saw a major upheaval as Magnus Carlsen, the defending champion, withdrew from the competition. Carlsen, who is also the reigning World Blitz champion, made headlines not for his chess but for his decision to quit after being fined $200 and instructed to change his attire. The Norwegian was wearing jeans, which are prohibited under the event's dress code. Upset by the ruling, Carlsen announced he would withdraw from both the rapid and blitz tournaments.

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FIDE had issued guidelines on proper attire for the championship, with an emphasis on elegance and decorum. However, the graphic accompanying the guidelines drew criticism for its amateurish design, belying the intended sophistication. The rules, still, explicitly state that jeans are not permitted.

German grandmaster Elisabeth Paehtz recounted an incident highlighting the strict and crude way in which the code is being enforced: a young girl, wearing jeans, was compelled to improvise by wrapping a scarf around her hips to create a makeshift skirt.

Carlsen was not the only player penalised for a dress code violation. Ian Nepomniachtchi, another top contender, was fined for wearing jeans but opted to comply and was allowed to continue. According to FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, Carlsen's hotel was just three minutes away, making it easy for him to change. However, the world champion refused and, in a more defiant response, decided to leave the tournament entirely.

Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, an angry Carlsen declared, "The way I feel now, I am at full war with FIDE. It has come to a point where I have been involved in this for many years. And I have no desire to have anything to do with them". He apologised to his fans, acknowledging his stance may seem trivial but stood firm in his disapproval of FIDE's handling of the situation.

Adding to the controversy, other players, including GMs Zaven Andriasian and Hikaru Nakamura, appeared to wear casual trousers resembling jeans but were not fined, raising questions about consistency in enforcement.

FIDE responded to the controversy with a statement asserting that the decision was made impartially and applied equally to all players. The organisation highlighted that the dress code regulations were created by the FIDE Athletes Commission, composed of professional players and experts, and that these rules have been in place for years. FIDE also emphasised that players were informed of the rules beforehand and accommodated close to the venue to facilitate compliance.

Carlsen withdrew just before the ninth round of the tournament, the last one of the day, leaving with a score of 5/8, 1½ points behind the co-leaders. Sutovsky remarked that Carlsen's decision might have stemmed from a combination of frustration over his performance and his broader dissatisfaction with FIDE.

The chess world was abuzz with reactions on social media, with many debating whether Carlsen's stance was justified or an overreaction to a "stupid matter of principle", as the Norwegian himself put it. 

Murzin joined in the lead by Arjun, Duda and Grischuk

With Magnus Carlsen out of the competition, players have shifted their focus to the battle for the world rapid title without the looming challenge of facing the defending champion. Carlsen had been a central figure throughout the event, playing every round on the top board to keep the audience engaged. His withdrawal prompted a wry remark from Alireza Firouzja, who posted on X: "At least we have access to board 1 now".

After 9 rounds, the standings reveal a tightly contested race, with four players tied for the lead on 7 points. Volodar Murzin, who co-led after day 1, managed to maintain his position and is now joined by Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Arjun Erigaisi and Alexander Grischuk. While Duda and Arjun each scored 3/4 on Friday, Grischuk had an impressive day, collecting 3½ points. Moreoever, Grischuk missed a crucial chance in round 9, signing a draw with Nodirbek Abdusattorov from what engines evaluated as a winning position for him.

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Alexander Grischuk | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

The ninth round also brought a notable upset as Murzin defeated Hikaru Nakamura in an endgame involving rooks and knights. Nakamura, known for his endgame prowess, faltered with 60.Rb8, allowing 60...Kc7, after which White was unable to stop the c-pawn's promotion—e.g., 61.Rb5 c3.

Instead, 60.Rb6+ Kd5 61.Nb1 would have kept the fight alive. Murzin capitalised on the mistake, securing a crucial victory that bolstered his chances of claiming the title.

Volodar Murzin facing Hikaru Nakamura | Photo: FIDE / Maria Emelianova

Just half a point behind the leaders is a 10-player pack, including former co-leaders Daniel Naroditsky and Leinier Dominguez. Naroditsky briefly held the sole lead after round 7, following a brilliant win over Abdusattorov with the white pieces. However, a loss to Duda in round 8 saw him slip back into the chasing group.

Another half point back lies a formidable group of players, including Fabiano Caruana, Wei Yi and Levon Aronian. All three are still within striking distance of the leaders heading into the final day. The championship will conclude with four more rounds on Saturday, as the contenders vie for the crown in New York.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda obtained a crucial victory over Daniel Naroditsky | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Standings after round 9

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