The chess champion quit the tournament after being told to change his jeans

World number one chess player Magnus Carlsen has pulled out of a major tournament after being told he could no longer play in jeans.

The chess player was defending his titles at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in New York when officials made the request.

The grandmother said that she had promised to change her pants the next day, but she was fined and told to change immediately.

The chess federation (FIDE) said its dress code was designed to “ensure fairness and professionalism for all participants.”

Carlsen is a top chess player who has drawn controversy in recent years.

Last year, he settled a long-running legal dispute accusing his rival of cheating in the competition.

On Friday, he pulled out of the short form competition due to a clothing dispute. Carlsen was a former Blitz and Rapid Chess champion.

He added that he would not appeal the decision, saying: “Honestly, I’m too old now to care.”

He said he was wearing jeans when he was at the lunch meeting, and “didn’t even think about” changing them to a different pair of pants when he went to the tournament.

He showed up in a shirt, blazer, black jeans and dress shoes and played a few rounds before he was asked to change.

When his request to change the next day was denied, Carlsen said it was “a small matter for me.”

In a statement, FIDE confirmed that the 34-year-old had been fined $200 (£159), and said its rules were applied “impartially”. They cite a case where another player was fined the same day before changing shoes.

Carlsen is a five-time World Chess Champion, and maintains the highest ranking in the sport.

The Norwegian has long been considered the best chess player in the world since he became a grandmaster – the highest title in chess – at the age of 13.

In a now-settled dispute with rival Hans Niemann, Carlsen withdrew from the 2022 tournament after Niemann beat him, before going on to accuse his American rival of cheating.

Niemann has denied the allegations, even saying he would “undress completely” to prove his innocence.

The pair went on to settle the $100m (£79m) lawsuit in August last year.