Chess Player Fined for Wearing 'Sports Shoes' Sparks Controversy

Anna-Maja Kazarian's €100 fine by the International Chess Federation ignites debate over dress code clarity and alleged double standards.

Anna-Maja Kazarian, a 23-year-old chess player from the Netherlands, was fined €100 ($111) by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for wearing Burberry sneakers deemed 'sports shoes' at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Uzbekistan.
The fine led to widespread criticism, with several chess professionals and fans accusing FIDE of double standards and inhumane treatment.
Kazarian, who streams her games to over 34,000 followers on Twitch, was required to change into more formal shoes between games, which she had to retrieve from her hotel room across the river from the tournament's venue.
Failure to change shoes would have resulted in Kazarian not being invited in the pairings for the next round, according to the official warning she received on a yellow laminated card.
The incident has sparked a debate about the clarity of FIDE's dress code, which forbids 'sports shoes' but does not clearly define what constitutes a 'sports shoe.'