Divya Deshmukh reignites Magnus Carlsen’s dress code controversy with ‘No Jeans’ remark on chess rules question

Divya Deshmukh reignites Magnus Carlsen’s dress code controversy with ‘No Jeans’ remark on chess rules question

Magnus Carlsen's clothing code dispute has been brought back by Divya Deshmukh's cheeky "No jeans!" response, which has gone viral. Carlsen's jeans are still a well-known image in chess culture, despite penalties and a $36,100 charity auction.

"Which chess rule would you like to change?" was supposed to be a straightforward and entertaining question. But it became a viral moment thanks to Divya, who recently won the Women's Chess World Cup. "No jeans!" she shot back, and then started laughing. The humorous response was more than a joke. It immediately reminded many chess lovers of one of the most bizarre controversy in the history of the game.

What chess rule would YOU change? Tell us in the comments! pic.twitter.com/jzcKAQSFjB

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— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 21, 2025

Divya's lighthearted remark was a direct reference to Carlsen being in the middle of a commotion at the 2024 World Rapid Championship in New York. The world No. 1 was advised by tournament judges to wear something "more formal" instead of jeans.

Carlsen refused to silently observe the rules. He forfeited his last round of the day, refused to change, and was fined $200. The action made international news. While some thought he had gone too far, others applauded him for defying strict customs. In any case, Carlsen had proven his point: chess players were more than just pieces on a board.

What may have been a trivial dress code conflict turned into a legendary event. Carlsen chose to work with Chess.com to auction off those very jeans earlier this year.

In typical "rapid chess" manner, the bidding skyrocketed in the last 30 minutes after starting at $14,100. As 29 bids poured in, the price skyrocketed to an incredible $36,100. Carlsen pledged to donate every penny to charity. The winner, who remained anonymous and spent $74 for shipping, did not simply purchase jeans but a piece of chess history.