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國際時事跟讀 Ep.K919: 西洋棋冠軍因牛仔褲爭議退賽 Chess Champion Quits Over Jeans Dispute

Highlights 主題摘要：

• Even seemingly minor dress code violations in professional chess can escalate into significant controversies, highlighting the tension between traditional regulations and modern attitudes in the sport.
• Magnus Carlsen's willingness to withdraw from a major tournament over a dress code dispute demonstrates how personal principles can take precedence over competitive opportunities.
• The incident sparked a broader debate within the chess community about the balance between maintaining professional standards and allowing for more flexible, contemporary interpretations of tournament rules.

In a dramatic turn of events at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York, world-renowned chess champion Magnus Carlsen made headlines when he withdrew from the tournament over an unexpected dress code dispute. The Norwegian grandmaster, who has dominated the chess world for years, found himself at odds with tournament officials when he arrived wearing dark jeans paired with a shirt, blazer, and dress shoes. Despite his professional appearance, the outfit violated the tournament's strict dress code regulations, leading to a confrontation that would soon escalate beyond a simple wardrobe issue. Moreover, the seven-time World Blitz Champion had been wearing the jeans due to a prior lunch meeting, unaware that this choice of attire would spark such controversy.

在紐約舉行的世界西洋棋聯合會（FIDE）世界快棋及超快棋錦標賽上，一場戲劇性事件震驚棋壇，世界知名的西洋棋冠軍馬格努斯．卡爾森因一場意外的著裝規範爭議而退賽。這位挪威西洋棋特級大師多年來稱霸棋壇，當他身著深色牛仔褲搭配襯衫、西裝外套和皮鞋出席比賽時，卻與賽事官員發生衝突。儘管他的穿著看似專業，但這套裝扮違反了賽事嚴格的著裝規範，導致一場原本單純的衣著問題逐漸升級。此外，這位七屆世界超快棋冠軍當時是因為先前的午餐會議而穿著牛仔褲，完全沒想到這樣的穿著會引發如此爭議。

The situation reached a critical point when tournament officials approached Carlsen after several rounds, demanding an immediate change of attire. The chess champion offered to modify his outfit for the following day's matches, viewing this as a reasonable compromise given the circumstances. However, this suggestion was deemed insufficient by the organizers, who not only insisted on an immediate change but also imposed a $200 fine. Carlsen, standing firm on his principles, chose to withdraw from the tournament rather than comply with what he perceived as an unreasonable demand. His decision sent shockwaves through the chess community and sparked intense debate about the rigidity of tournament regulations.

當賽事官員在進行數輪比賽後要求卡爾森立即更換服裝時，情況達到了臨界點。這位西洋棋冠軍提出在隔天賽事前更換服裝的折衷方案，認為這是在當時情況下的合理妥協。然而，主辦方不僅否決了這個建議，還要求立即更換服裝並處以 200 美元罰款。卡爾森堅持己見，認為這是一項不合理的要求，最終選擇退出比賽。他的決定在西洋棋界引起軒然大波，也引發了關於賽事規範過於僵化的激烈討論。

The chess federation FIDE defended its position, emphasizing that their dress code regulations are designed to maintain professionalism and ensure fair treatment of all participants. They pointed out that similar rules had been applied to other players, including one who was required to change his shoes on the same day. However, Carlsen's response to the situation reflected his characteristic independence and willingness to challenge established norms, as he later shared a photo of his controversial outfit on social media with the caption "OOTD" (Outfit of the Day). This public display of defiance further intensified the discussion surrounding the incident.

世界西洋棋聯合會為其立場辯護，強調其著裝規範旨在維持專業性並確保所有參賽者受到公平對待。他們指出，同樣的規定也適用於其他選手，包括當天要求一名選手更換鞋子的案例。然而，卡爾森對這種情況的回應展現出他特有的獨立性格和挑戰既定規範的意願，他後來在社群媒體上分享了這套爭議裝扮的照片，並配上「今日穿搭」（OOTD）的說明。這種公開的反抗態度更加激化了圍繞這起事件的討論。

This incident adds another chapter to Carlsen's complex relationship with professional chess organizations. The 34-year-old Norwegian, who became a grandmaster at the remarkably young age of 13, has consistently demonstrated his readiness to stand up for his principles, even at the cost of tournament participation. His decision to withdraw from the championship, where he held both the Blitz and Rapid Chess titles, sparked widespread debate within the chess community about the balance between maintaining professional standards and accommodating personal expression. When asked about potentially appealing the decision, Carlsen dismissed the idea with characteristic frankness, stating he was "too old at this point to care too much." The incident has since become a talking point about the modernization of chess traditions and regulations.

這起事件為卡爾森與職業西洋棋組織之間複雜的關係增添了新篇章。這位 34 歲的挪威棋手在 13 歲就成為特級大師，一直展現出為原則堅持的態度，即使犧牲比賽參賽資格也在所不惜。他退出自己同時擁有超快棋和快棋冠軍頭銜的錦標賽，在西洋棋界引發了關於如何平衡專業標準與個人表達的廣泛討論。當被問及是否會對這個決定提出上訴時，卡爾森以其一貫的直率態度回應說，他「現在年紀太大，不會太在意這些事」。這起事件已經成為討論西洋棋傳統與規範現代化的話題。

Keyword Drills 關鍵字：

1. Confrontation (Con-fron-ta-tion) [noun. a difficult situation where people argue or disagree face to face]: The outfit violated the tournament's strict dress code regulations, leading to a confrontation that would soon escalate.
2. Circumstances (Cir-cum-stanc-es) [noun. the conditions or facts connected with a situation]: The chess champion offered to modify his outfit for the following day's matches, viewing this as a reasonable compromise given the circumstances.
3. Insufficient (In-suf-fi-cient) [adjective. not enough or not good enough]: However, this suggestion was deemed insufficient by the organizers, who insisted on an immediate change.
4. Professionalism (Pro-fes-sion-al-ism) [noun. the qualities and skills expected of someone doing their job well]: FIDE defended its position, emphasizing that their dress code regulations are designed to maintain professionalism.
5. Modernization (Mod-ern-i-za-tion) [noun. the process of updating something to make it suit modern needs]: The incident has since become a talking point about the modernization of chess traditions and regulations.

Reference article:

1. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98lkrdkz70o

2. https://www.chess.com/news/view/breaking-magnus-carlsen-makes-u-turn-confirms-world-blitz-championship-participation