Chess | ‘No jeans’: Divya Deshmukh evokes Magnus Carlsen’s viral dress code controversy – Watch | Chess News
A lighthearted clip, posted by FIDE (the governing body for chess) across their social media platforms, has gone viral after India’s Divya Deshmukh, the 2025 Women’s World Cup champion, was asked which chess rule she would like to change. With a cheeky smile, she replied: “No jeans!” before bursting into laughter, a playful nod to one of the most memorable controversies in recent chess history.Watch:Her answer immediately evoked memories of world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen’s infamous jeans incident at the 2024 World Rapid Championship in New York. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Carlsen had been told by arbiters to swap his size-32 Corneliani jeans for more formal attire in line with the tournament’s dress code. Instead, he refused, accepted a $200 fine, and ultimately forfeited his final round of the day. The bold stance sparked a storm of debate over how much freedom players should have in expressing themselves during competition.Far from fading, the jeans episode has only grown in legend. Earlier this year, the very same pair was auctioned in collaboration with Chess.com, drawing enormous global attention. Initially stuck at $14,100, the bidding exploded in the final 30 minutes, with 29 rapid-fire bids pushing the price up to an astonishing $36,100, all of which Carlsen pledged to donate to charity. The winning bidder, who remains anonymous, also paid $74 in shipping for what is now one of the most famous garments in the chess world.From a rule dispute to a charitable milestone, Carlsen’s jeans have become a quirky yet powerful symbol in chess, and Divya Deshmukh’s playful “no jeans” answer shows the story still resonates in the sport’s culture.
