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Carlsen's selfie rule-breaker: Phone confiscated!
5 Apr
Summary
- Magnus Carlsen agreed to a pregame selfie with opponent Alua Nurman.
- Nurman's phone was confiscated by an arbiter due to FIDE rules.
- This mirrors a similar incident with Etienne Bacrot at the 2025 festival.
At the Grenke Chess Festival Freestyle Open in Karlsruhe, Germany, a unique moment unfolded involving world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Before his second-round game against Kazakhstan's Woman Grandmaster Alua Nurman, Carlsen obliged Nurman's request for a pregame selfie.
Following the selfie, Carlsen alerted a tournament arbiter. In accordance with FIDE rules, Nurman's phone was promptly confiscated. These regulations strictly forbid players from possessing or using electronic devices during games without explicit permission. Phones must be switched off and stored away from players' access.
This event echoes a similar incident from the 2025 Grenke Chess Festival, where French Grandmaster Etienne Bacrot also took a selfie with Carlsen, resulting in his phone's confiscation. Carlsen, a five-time world champion, is currently in dominant form, extending his winning streak at the tournament.
