FIDE Eases Dress Code for Doha Rapid & Blitz, Classic Jeans Now Allowed

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced a major relaxation of its dress code for the upcoming World Rapid and Blitz Championships, scheduled to be held in Doha from December 25 to 30. Players will now be allowed to wear classic, non-distressed jeans in blue, black, or grey, marking a significant departure from previous regulations following the 2024 ‘jeansgate’ incident involving Magnus Carlsen.

Under the updated guidelines, men are permitted to wear suits, unicoloured shirts, dress shoes, loafers, unicoloured sneakers, and approved jeans. Women may wear skirt or pant suits, dresses, dark trousers including jeans, blouses, and similar footwear. Clothing is required to be neat and free of rips, tears, offensive slogans, or prohibited logos. T-shirts, shorts, baseball caps, and beachwear continue to be banned. Approval is required from the Global Strategy Commission for wearing national or traditional dress.

Penalties for violations of the dress code have been detailed. Minor infringements, such as untidy or wrinkled clothing, may attract fines or warnings. Repeated or serious violations could result in exclusion from subsequent rounds.

The relaxation follows a similar easing of rules earlier this year at the Grand Swiss and Women’s Grand Swiss tournaments, where “appropriate jeans” were permitted. The move is seen as an effort to modernize the dress code while maintaining professional standards.

The announcement comes amid renewed attention on the 2024 controversy, when Carlsen wore jeans that did not meet FIDE’s code at the same venue. He was fined USD 200, temporarily excluded from a Rapid round, and later withdrew from the event. Carlsen returned for the Blitz tournament, shared the title with Ian Nepomniachtchi, and auctioned his jeans for about Rs 31.5 lakh, with proceeds donated to charity.

India will be represented by a 41-member contingent, led by world champion D Gukesh. Other top players include Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, Koneru Humpy, and Divya Deshmukh.