Chess player fined €100 for wearing Burberry sporty sneakers
Dutch chess whiz Anna-Maja Kazarian, ranked 7,765 worldwide, got slammed with a €100 (Rs. 9,130 approx.) fine by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for rocking Burberry sneakers that were a tad too "sporty" at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. FIDE's dress code prohibits "sports shoes," yet the specific definition remains ambiguous. Kazarian sported Burberry's Kingsly model, not designed for sports and far from cutting-edge, harking back to the Great Depression era.
FIDE CEO responds to dress code concerns
When Germany's grandmaster Elisabeth Pähtz called out FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky on X about the dress code's inconsistencies, Sutovsky clarified that "not all sneakers are banned" and urged players to "kindly check the wording" of the rule. Kazarian defended her fashion choice in a December 28 YouTube video, saying, "They're just sneakers, Burberry-branded. Not that the brand matters, but I thought they were fancy, classy shoes that you don't use for sports."
Previous dress code controversies in chess
Kazarian isn't the first chess champ to butt heads with FIDE's dress code. In 2017, Argentina's Carolina Lujan skipped the World Championships in Iran because of the mandatory hijab head covering for female players, saying she was "not ready to be forced to use it." That same year, Canada's Anton Kovalyov forfeited his spot in the world championship rather than swap out of shorts he'd already played two rounds in.
Indian world champion also faced dress code issues
In 2019, India's junior world champion Parham Maghsoodloo was told to ditch his "lucky" jacket by an arbiter. During an interaction, he told a commentator that he hadn't worn his "lucky" jacket—a black puffer vest—because "on the first day an arbiter told me: Never wear this again!" Maghsoodloo had no choice but to do away with it. He even suggested that perhaps one day he would be so incredible that they would change the rules for him!
Why the FIDE dress code is important
FIDE says that encouraging a favorable and constructive perception of chess is crucial. Clothes worn for this important chess tournament should be tasteful and fitting for every stage of the championships and events. Some apparel choices that neither men nor women participants can wear at a chess tournament include beach-wear slips, profanity and nude/semi-nude pictures printed on shirts, torn pants/jeans/denim shorts, short-shorts, cut-off shorts, gym shorts, unclean clothing, sunglasses, and sports caps.
