Magnus Carlsen quits chess championship after being told to change jeans

World chess number one Magnus Carlsen has quit a major tournament after being told he could not carry on playing while wearing jeans.

The chess great had been defending his titles at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York when officials made the request.

The grandmaster said he had offered to change his trousers for the next day, but was fined and told he needed to change immediately.

The chess federation (FIDE) said its dress code regulations were designed to "ensure fairness and professionalism for all participants".

On Friday he pulled out of the championships for the short form versions of the game due to the dress altercation. Carlsen had been both the reigning Blitz and Rapid Chess champions.

He added he wouldn't be appealing the decision, saying: "Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much."

He said he had been wearing jeans for a lunch meeting, and "didn't even think about" swapping them for a different pair of trousers when heading to the tournament.

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