A brief pre-match exchange between Alua Nurman and Magnus Carlsen turned into an unusual talking point during the second round of the Grenke Chess Freestyle Open in Karlsruhe, Germany.
The 18-year-old Woman Grandmaster, paired against the world No. 1, took the opportunity to capture the moment with a selfie before the game began. Carlsen, relaxed ahead of the contest, obliged and even smiled for the picture, giving Nurman a memorable keepsake before what was always going to be a challenging encounter across the board.
Moments later, however, the tone shifted. As the players settled in and the game was about to begin, Carlsen got up from his seat and returned with an arbiter, appearing to request that Nurman’s phone be removed from the playing area. While the move may have seemed abrupt, it was fully in line with tournament regulations.
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Under the FIDE handbook, players are not permitted to carry or use mobile phones or any communication devices in the playing venue unless explicitly authorised by the arbiter. The rule forms a cornerstone of anti-cheating measures in modern chess, where even the presence of a device can be considered a violation, regardless of intent.
PREVIOUS INCIDENT RESURFACES AGAIN
Carlsen’s strict adherence to such regulations is not new. In a previous edition of the tournament, tienne Bacrot had asked for a selfie before their game. On that occasion as well, Carlsen called an arbiter, this time to ensure Bacrot removed his wristwatch, another item that could potentially fall under restricted devices depending on tournament guidelines.
Despite the brief off-board interruption, Carlsen’s focus remained unwavering. He quickly settled into the game and maintained his strong run in Karlsruhe, going on to defeat Maxime Lagarde in the following round.
Carlsen entered the tournament as defending champion after delivering a flawless 9/9 performance in the previous edition. Early indications suggest he remains in formidable touch, combining sharp play with a disciplined approach to the rules. His actions, both on and off the board, underline a consistent commitment to maintaining the integrity of competition as he pushes for another dominant showing in Karlsruhe.
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