Jeans, ties and Magnus Carlsen 

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Jeans, ties and Magnus Carlsen 

Magnus Carlsen: the memes of a champion; a champion in jeans.

“This is a power play, right? It’s weird that people think this is about jeans. Magnus was very happy he was kicked out; he now has the perfect excuse to completely challenge FIDÉ in a way he’s wanted to do for a very long time.”

Thus spake controversialist, Hans Niemann, on the latest scandal to rock FIDÉ, the world chess federation, the President of which remains, alarmingly, Putin-supporting Russian apparatchik, Arkady Dvorkovich. 

And the ostensible casus belli? Magnus Carlsen’s expulsion from the world rapid championships in New York, during the dying embers of December, allegedly for wearing a pair of jeans during play, in contravention of the FIDÉ dress code. Magnus simultaneously withdrew from the following world Blitz championship, thereby completing his severance from all surviving connections with FIDÉ championships. It will be recalled that the perennial global number one, and, for many, the greatest chess player of all time, had already abandoned his absolute world title. Carlsen’s voluntary abdication left the field of honour free for those two relative Lilliputians, Ding and Gukesh, to scramble for the vacated throne in Singapore, towards the end of last year. 

Then, in a dramatic overnight volte face, Carlsen re-entered the world blitz. In a humiliation for FIDÉ and its rules, not only was Carlsen permitted to wear his previously forbidden attire, he also reputedly signed a lucrative contract with the G Star brand, to promote their line of jeans.

Opinions as to the original motive for this flare-up differ, and the rules about dress are not exactly pellucid. FIDÉ’s general rule is that jeans (but not torn jeans) are permissible, whereas the specific regulations for the world rapid and blitz pronounce anathema on jeans of all types, whether intact or ripped. We can clarify the position as we have heard from two principals, with our own David Sedgwick (a highly respected arbiter) framing the gist:

I have just been watching the BBC News at 2200 (on Wednesday 28th December). There was an item on the Carlsen controversy at 2215. Alex Holowczak was quoted, saying that he did not make the Regulations but it was his job to apply them and that Carlsen was allowed time to change. Holowczak was not named, nor did the BBC mention that he is British.”

And then, straight from the horse’s mouth, from Alex Holowczak, the British arbiter who penalised Carlsen: “ The Code that people are finding is not the one in use at this tournament. The one that was used was presented on 21/12 before people travelled, and emailed out.”

Ironically, if the point of the FIDÉ dress code is to impress sponsors, then its aggressive enforcement in this case has had the opposite effect of causing various sponsors to distance themselves from the unseemly conflict. That was, until Carlsen (still in jeans) reentered the fray and was quickly signed up by GStar.

Some observers regard this sartorial fracas as an unlucky accident, others as the lamentable result of over-zealous arbiting. Then there is the egalitarian school of thought, which praises the even-handedness of the tournament officials for strict application of the code, be it prince or peasant who is affected. That even handedness did not last long. Indeed, it evaporated entirely when Nepomniachtchi and Carlsen, having reached the final of the blitz championship, decided bilaterally to share the title, quite contrary to FIDÉ regulations. 

The sartorially correct former world champions, Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov

This action must surely bolster  the conspiracy theorists, amongst whose ranks Niemann must be counted, who see Carlsen’s motivation as a deeply laid plot to benefit his primary backer, Chess.com, in a quest to establish its own championships in competition with FIDÉ. Having done precisely this myself for the world championships of 1993 (Kasparov vs. Short) and 2000 (Kasparov vs. Kramnik), I can readily agree that the attractions of such a manoeuvre are both manifold and obvious.

However, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. If the  fons et origo  of this latest conflagration was indeed purely dress related, then I can now propose a solution. I suggest that the powers that be examine the photograph of the five original Grandmasters from the tournament at St Petersburg 1914. It includes the Immortals: Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Tarrasch and Marshall. All of them are splendidly kitted out in formal attire. 

From left to right: Lasker and Tarrasch (seated). Standing: Alekhine, Capablanca and Marshall. Source: Wikimedia Commons, GPL.

My suggestion to FIDÉ is simple. Instead of prohibiting certain categories of clothing, they should stipulate what must be worn for all events or games of exalted status, such as world championships, candidates tournaments or the upper boards of mass events (such as the most recent manifestation in New York). Namely, a return to the elegant official evening wear of St Petersburg 1914. In 1987, I organised for Channel 4 tv a six game match between Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short. As White, a white dinner jacket was de rigueur, while as Black, a black dinner jacket was mandatory. Such a move would certainly frustrate Carlsen’s ingenious attempt to increase his already vast coffers by signing with GStar to sport their jeans at elite chess events.

To prove that I had already practised what I went on to preach, here is my win from Hastings 1966 against three times world champion and Red Czar of the Soviet chess imperium, Mikhail Botvinnik. 

 

Raymond Keene vs. Mikhail Botvinnik

Hastings, 30.12.1966, rd. 3

Notes by Raymond Keene

 1. Nf3

I appeared for this game wearing a dinner-jacket and black (elasticated) bow tie, determined to perish in style. Photographs taken during the game later revealed that after Botvinnik’s 26th move the elastic snapped, leaving my bow tie dangling at an absurd angle, a fact of which I was oblivious during the game. 

1… g6 2. c4 Bg7

This method of opening had become increasingly popular with Botvinnik in the latter years of his active playing career.

3.d4 Nf6

Opting to transpose into the King’s Indian Defence rather than continue along the lines of the Kotov-Robatsch with …d7-d6 and …Nc6.

4.g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c6 6. O-O d6

6… d5 is an excellent equalising alternative, but naturally my opponent was intent on achieving more than equality.

7.Nc3 a6

A refreshing change from the well-known 7…Nbd7, followed by 8…e5.

8.a4? 

Botvinnik accused this move of being stereotyped, and rightly so. Petrosian had followed a similar plan in the final game of his 1966 World Championship match with Spassky, but there his king’s knight was on e2 and his king’s pawn on e3, and the weakness of the b4 square was adequately compensated by increased central control: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Nge2 a6 8. b3 Rb8 9. a4 a5 10.Ba3 c6 11. O-O Qc7 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Rac1 Ra8 14. Rfd1 Nb8 15. h3 Na6 16. Kh2 h5 (½-½, 77). In the present case White’s best course is the aggressive 8. d5!

8… a5! 

Both preventing the constricting a4-a5 and exploiting White’s ‘hole’ on b4.

9.b3 Na6 10. Ba3 Nb4 11. e4

The natural 11. Na2 Qb6 12. Nxb4 axb4 13. Bb2 has drawbacks after 13… Ne4, but a safer course might have been 11. Ne1, followed by e2-e3, Nc2 or Nd3.

11… Bg4! 

In the following closed manoeuvring struggle knights will be more useful than bishops.

 

12.Qd2 Bxf3! 

The knight must be eliminated before it can reach e1. Botvinnik plays with great accuracy and energy.

13.Bxf3 Nd7

Initiating pressure against the central dark squares with the intention of forcing White to play d5, which will impede the scope of his king’s bishop and provide a target for the flanking blow …f7-f5.

14.Rab1

White prepares to bolster up his d-pawn in attempt to avoid playing d4-d5.

14… Qb6

It is interesting to note how Botvinnik gradually intensifies his central pressure without actually having recourse to moving his central pawns.

15.Rfd1 Rad8! 

Naturally not 15… Bxd4?? 16. Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Rxd4 Nc2 18.Rd2! Nxa3 19. Ra1 and Black will lose a piece.

16.Ne2 e5 17. Bg2 Rfe8

The pressure has now reached such a pitch that White can no longer hold out in the centre, but must declare his intentions. Nevertheless, a good alternative would have been 17… exd4 18. Nxd4 Nc5.

18.d5

This possesses the virtue of disarming the immediate effect of the black rooks.

18… Nc5 19. Nc1 Rf8

Discreet but powerful. Note that Black has the initiative on both sides of the board and that his pieces are all indirectly aiming at White’s main weakness, the f2 square. Nevertheless, by now challenging Black’s knight with 20 Na2! as advocated by Jan Timman, I could still have justified my play. 

 

20.Bb2 ? cxd5

If Black plays the immediate 20… f5 then 21.. dxc6! bxc6 22.exf5 allows White’s two bishops some scope to compensate for Black’s immense pawn centre. As played White’s pawn remains on d5 to muffle his king’s bishop.

21.cxd5 f5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. Re1 Rc8?

Seizing another open line and threatening to penetrate at c2. However, Timman’s suggestion of 23…Rf6 would now have left White helpless against the threat of …Bh6.  

24.Bc3! 

Parrying the immediate danger on the c-file and threatening 25. Bxb4 followed by Na2, when White would have overcome all his problems.

24… Ne4

Black is obliged to strike at once before the above-mentioned threat can be carried out.

25.Bxe4 fxe4 26. Bxb4

Up until now Botvinnik’s play has been a seemingly classic blend of constant tactical awareness and profound strategic thought. However, now he must have become concerned about the simple 26… axb4, since the weakness of his two sets of doubled pawns is, surprisingly, not offset by the increased activity of his pieces; e.g. 27. Rb2 Qd4 28. Na2 Bh6! 29.Qxd4 exd4 30. Rxe4 d3 31. f4 Bg7 32. Rd2 Rc2 33. Rxc2 dxc2 34. Rxb4 Rc8 35. Rxb7 c1=Q+ 36. Nxc1 Rxc1+ 37. Kg2 ± Hitherto Botvinnik had been playing quickly and confidently, but from now on his play decelerated considerably and he began to look more and more unsettled. Although Black has been pressing, White has managed to hold the lines, and Black’s next is really only a fancy way of forcing a draw.

26… Bh6 27. Qxh6! Qxf2+ 28. Kh1 Qf3+ 29. Kg1 Qf2+ 30.Kh1 Rc2 31. Qh3

Botvinnik himself pointed out a second satisfactory continuation for White: 31. Qe6+ Kh8 32. Ne2 Rxe2 33. Rxe2 Qxe2 and now 34. h3!

31… Qf3+ 32. Kg1 axb4 33. Ne2 Qe3+? 

Complicating the issue. Black should either give perpetual check himself with …Qf2+ etc., or regain his piece with 33…Rxe2 34 Rxe2 Qxe2 35 Qe6+ Kh8 36 Qxd6 when we have a position similar to that given in the last note which is perfectly happy for White.

34.Kh1 Rxe2?? 

A fantastic blunder, possibly caused by a combination of mental exhaustion and disappointment. Black still has one possibility of saving the game after his mistake on move 33. He should have played 34… Rf2! (not 34… Qf3+? 35 Qg2!) when accord.ing to Botvinnik White must continue with 35.Qe6+, followed by perpetual check, since the presence of three black major pieces in his position prevents White from any positive winning attempt.

35.Qg4+

 

At which point Botvinnik gasped, raised his hand to his forehead, and resigned. 1-0

TheArticle , of course, sends our congratulations to the  five  winners of the FIDÉ Open and Women’s Rapidplay and Blitz World Champions:

 

Open Rapidplay: Volodar Murzin 10/13;

Women’s Rapidplay: Koneru Humpy 8½/11;

Open Blitz: Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi (shared after playoffs);

Women’s Blitz: Ju Wenjun.

 

The number  five  is significant. Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi agreed to share the Blitz title, even though the regulations stipulate a playoff unto (metaphorical) death. Where does FIDÉ stand in all this? Their rights have been challenged before, notably when I was instrumental in wrenching control of the absolute world championship from FIDÉ in 1993, for Nigel Short’s challenge to Kasparov, sponsored by  The Times.  

The truth of the matter is that General Credibility marches hand-in-hand with the wishes of the world’s clearly strongest player. Thus FIDÉ’s feeble attempts to stage their own title events in the absence of Kasparov have dissolved into the mists of time, with their “official” champions largely forgotten. 

If Niemann is correct, and Carlsen truly is planning a broad commercial takeover of all FIDÉ functions, then the governing body faces a serious challenge. On the other hand, the explanation may be more innocent. With Carlsen due to be married the following weekend, the world number one may simply have wanted to focus on other matters than adding another title to his already extensive catalogue. In that case, a cigar remains a cigar, and FIDÉ officials may continue to sleep at night, undisturbed by fears of a widespread Carlsen takeover.

 

I conclude this week with one of Carlsen’s smooth blitz wins from New York:

 

Magnus Carlsen vs. Aleksandr Shimanov

World Blitz Championship, New York, 30.12.24, rd. 4

 

1.c4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 e5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 f6 

This move has the effect of entombing Black’s potentially powerful g7-bishop for the remainder of the game. For this reason, 6… Nge7 was a preferable move. 

7.Be3 Nh6 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. O-O-O+ Bd7 11. h3 Nf7 12. c5 Kc8 13. Bc4 Nfd8

Although this is not a new move, players had previously preferred 13… Ncd8, although it must be said, with mixed results. Significantly, the text move is the engine’s top selection.

 14. Rd2 Be6 15. Nd5 Re8 16. Rhd1 Nf7? TN

A new move, but a bad one. This serious error offers White a clear tactical path to victory. Black has few problems after the superior, 16… a5, which was the move played in the stem game we have been following: Henzen-Bonno, Netherlands Team Championship, 2008.

17.g4?

Missing the immediate win that follows after the tactic: 17. Nxc7 Kxc7 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. Rd7+ Kc8 20. Rxf7, winning material and disrupting the enemy camp. White still enjoys a decent advantage after the text, but permits Black some wriggle room after 17… Ncd8, protecting the f7-knight.

17… a6??

The losing move, for reasons explained in the last comment and still in force. 

  1. Nxc7 Black resigns 1-0

STOP PRESS

In an event totally unrelated to Carlsen’s haste to tie the world blitz title with his old adversary Nepomniachtchi, he took a moment to advertise that sartorial elegance still does have a place in his life. We send our sincere congratulations to Magnus and his bride, Ella Victoria Malone, on their nuptials on January 4 th in Oslo, Norway.


Ray’s 206th book, “  Chess in the Year of the King  ”, written in collaboration with Adam Black, and his 207th, “  Napoleon and Goethe: The Touchstone of Genius  ” (which discusses their relationship with chess) can be ordered from both Amazon and Blackwells. His 208th, the world record for chess books, written jointly with chess playing artist Barry Martin,  Chess through the Looking Glass is also available from Amazon.

 

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