By Leon Watson

World Rapid blown wide open as Carlsen quits over dress code row

Magnus Carlsen sensationally quit the 2024 World Rapid Championships as a row over his choice of attire overshadowed a second day of sparkling chess.

Tournament arbiters accused Norway's defending champion and world number-one of violating the FIDE dress code by wearing a pair of blue jeans.

Carlsen was fined $200 and told he had two rounds to change trousers. But five-time Rapid winner refused to do so. Then, in an interview on the Take, Take, Take app, Carlsen announced he would drop out of the event in New York entirely.

"I said I'll change tomorrow... but they said you have to change now and it became a matter of principle for me, so here we are!" Carlsen said. "Honestly, I'm too old at this point to care too much. If this is what they want to do I‘ll probably set off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer."

Carlsen—the biggest draw in chess—will play no more part in the World Rapid or the World Blitz, which starts in Wall Street on December 30. Instead, the 34-year-old said, he is jetting off to sunnier climbs.

The row shocked fans and commentators alike and was immediately dubbed "Jeansgate" online. FIDE later clarified its position by issuing the following statement.

It was an extraordinary and unexpected twist to the day which distracted from an almighty tussle for the lead in both the Open and Women's events.

After eight rounds were completed, the Open was left with a four-way tie at the top and the promise of a thrilling finale.

American Daniel Naroditsky made the early running and briefly took the lead before being pegged back.

Making the biggest waves, however, was 18-year-old Volodar Murzin who is so far undefeated. In a tense last round of the day, Murzin took the prized scalp of American big gun Hikaru Nakamura.

"How is this kid pulling this off?" said FIDE commentator Maurice Ashley. "Murzin, this is a kid making a name for himself! Wow!"

Murzin goes into the final four rounds with high hopes of becoming the new 2024 World Rapid champion. He is joined on 7/8 by India's Arjun Erigaisi, Jan-Krzysztof Duda from Poland and the three-time World Blitz champ Alexander Grischuk. Half a point behind the top four, a pack of 10 will be snapping at their heels.

Carlsen, meanwhile, had been having another disappointing day before the incident which led to him being left out of the pairings for round 9 and his sudden departure.

An opening win over 15-year-old soon-to-be grandmaster Brewington Hardaway, rated 657 FIDE points below him, was followed by a draw against the Belgian Daniel Dardha.

Carlsen turned up to the board two minutes late and only narrowly avoided defeat. "Again, Magnus was busted in a game," Ashley said in commentary.

Carlsen then beat fellow countryman Aryan Tari. It meant had Carlsen been paired for round 9 and won, he would only be a point behind the leaders.

The Women's event also ended with a three-way tie for the lead. China's Ju Wenjun started the day by beating overnight leader Alice Lee, the teenage American sponsored by the ICC chess club. It was a sharp 71-move win which meant Ju leapfrogged Lee.

An important win over Tan Zhongyi followed. The game was an intriguing preview of Ju's Women's World Championship match with Tan in April.

Ju appeared to be heading inexorably to the title. But a draw against former winner Kateryna Lagno allowed India's powerful duo of Humpy Koneru and Harika Dronavalli to catch up. Ju, Humpy and Harika ended the day on 6.5/8 with three to play and the Women's section left finely poised.

The ICC, the original home of online chess, is sponsoring several players in both the Open and Women's and following them through the event.

Argentinia's rising star Faustino Oro and Jose Carlos Ibarra, the 2023 Spanish blitz champion, both took win to end day two on 4.5/8 in the Open.

The 2016 Women's winner Anna Muzychuk picked up only one win and slipped down to 32 on the leaderboard. Priyanka Nutakki, the 22-year-old Woman Grandmaster from India, also had a tough day and fell to 86th.

The 2024 FIDE World Rapid Championship continues on Saturday from 2pm ET / 8pm CET. You can watch the official stream on FIDE's YouTube channel.