Archive · 13 Dec 2025
FIDE Relaxes Dress Code for Chess Championships
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has relaxed its dress code for the upcoming World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha.
Players are now allowed to wear classic, non-distressed jeans in blue, black, or grey, along with other business-casual attire.
This change comes a year after a controversy involving chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who was fined for wearing jeans.
The new rules aim to balance professionalism with comfort and cultural diversity.
Similar debates about dress codes have occurred in other sports, highlighting the need for fairness and representation in athletic attire.
FIDE has relaxed the dress code for the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha, allowing classic non-distressed jeans for both men and women.
The updated regulations permit dark business-casual trousers, suits, unicoloured shirts, dress shoes, loafers, and unicoloured sneakers for men.
Women can wear skirt or pant suits, dresses, dark trousers including jeans, blouses, and similar footwear.
Clothing must be neat and free of rips, tears, offensive slogans, or prohibited logos; T-shirts, shorts, baseball caps, and beachwear remain banned.
The dress code relaxation follows the 'Jeansgate' controversy involving Magnus Carlsen, who was fined for wearing jeans in 2023 and later auctioned his jeans for charity.
- Who
- International Chess Federation (FIDE) and chess players
- What
- Relaxation of dress code for World Rapid and Blitz Championships
- When
- Effective for the event from December 25 to 30
- Where
- Doha
- Why
- To allow more comfortable and diverse attire while maintaining a professional appearance
- Event
- World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha
- Dates
- December 25 to 30
- Allowed Attire for Men
- Dark business-casual trousers, classic non-distressed jeans, suits, unicoloured shirts, dress shoes, loafers, unicoloured sneakers
- Allowed Attire for Women
- Skirt or pant suits, dresses, dark trousers including jeans, blouses, similar footwear
- Prohibited Attire
- T-shirts, shorts, baseball caps, beachwear, clothing with rips, tears, offensive slogans, or prohibited logos
- Previous Controversy
- Magnus Carlsen fined for wearing jeans in 2023
- Magnus Carlsen's Jeans Auction
- $36,100 (approx Rs 31.5 lakh)