Five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen placed his FIDE-worn jeans up for auction on eBay and plans to donate the eye-popping proceeds to charity.
Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen took himself out of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in December 2024 after the chief arbiter told him he couldn’t compete while wearing blue jeans.
Additionally, Carlsen was fined $200. Though he told officials he would change his attire to something more professional, the GM ultimately decided to quit the tournament entirely.
The moment became a timestamp in the history of chess, as “jeans gate” began to trend online. With many fans having sided with Carlsen, the chess player opted to sell his legendary jeans on eBay for a good cause.
“The forbidden jeans — can now be yours. I am auctioning my jeans. A sentence I never thought I would write. But here we are. All proceeds go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. *Game worn,” Carlsen tweeted.
35 fans have placed a bid on Magnus Carlsen’s FIDE jeans
At this time of writing, the pants have 35 bids on eBay, but only one lucky fan will be able to take home his iconic pair of jeans. Though the starting bid was around $20, the price has since peaked at $8K.
Carlsen’s pair of jeans, a size 32 from the Italian luxury brand Corneliani, has a 28-inch inseam and an 18-inch waistline. They cost $270-$700 for one pair.
Magnus Carlsen wearing the “forbidden jeans.”
The sale-price of the jeans will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters, to help “support youth mentorship at chess clinics, community events, and beyond, to build connection, belonging, and enrich the lives of young people through the game.”
After tweeting about the sale of his memorabilia, Carlsen was met with support from his fans. Some suggested he launch his own jeans brand, while others agreed that it was a “good use” of historical pants.
Many fans even asked if the pair of jeans were being sold unwashed, to which Carlsen responded, “Yes. The real deal.”
As of February 20, Carlsen’s “forbidden jeans” are still for sale on eBay, but it’s likely that the bidding war won’t last long.