FIDE chief Arkady Dvorkovich on Magnus Carlsen’s fist thump: ‘It was extreme emotion… but emotions make any sport more exciting’

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Arkady Dvorkovich Magnus Carlsen Dvorkovich felt that in cases where a player acts out physically during a game, an arbiter should give a soft warning. But “if there are no complaints (from the other player), it doesn't go anywhere.” (Express Photo by Amit Kamath and Norway Chess X)

When a frustrated Magnus Carlsen slammed his fist on the table after a blunder against world champion Gukesh Dommaraju during a match at Norway Chess, the sound was heard across the world. While many in the chess fraternity were a little taken aback by that display of emotion, that moment has prompted plenty of people who would otherwise not follow the sport to track the drama keenly.

Now FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich has said that what Carlsen did was “a bit unusual” but “not disrespectful”.

“I saw a video that showed that Gukesh had also done the same (once). The reaction (from Carlsen) was a bit unusual, yes. It was like extreme emotion. But, people like emotions. Emotions make sport more exciting sometimes,” Dvorkovich told Indian media in Stavanger on Wednesday.

OH MY GOD 😳🤯😲 pic.twitter.com/QSbbrvQFkE

— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 1, 2025

“Of course, everyone should keep himself respectful. I would not call what Magnus did disrespectful. It was emotional as he was really disappointed. Gukesh fought back in a very tough game. But at the end, Magnus appreciated that Gukesh was really fighting for that (win).”

Dvorkovich-led FIDE and Carlsen have recently clashed a few times, especially when the world no.1 was threatened with a forfeiture for wearing jeans at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship. In response, Carlsen quit the tournament and butted antlers with the top brass of chess’ world governing body. He was later coaxed back to play the World Blitz Championship, the title which he subsequently opted to share with Ian Nepomniachtchi. FIDE then objected to the Freestyle Grand Slam chess tour events, organised by people backed by the Norwegian.

In Stavanger, when Dvorkovich was asked whether he thought Carlsen banging his fist on the table would draw in newer audiences to the sport, he said: “You can always say that in any sport, any scandal creates more excitement. And this was not a big scandal, happily, it was just a short moment.”

Arkady Dvorkovich Dvorkovich-led FIDE and Carlsen have recently clashed a few times, especially when the world no.1 was threatened with a forfeiture for wearing jeans at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship. (Express Photo | Amit Kamath)

“Major channels start following those things, like it was once with the (Hans Niemann) cheating scandal, Jeansgate or whatever. Magnus is a top player, so when he is involved in something like that, of course everyone pays attention. But I have great respect for Magnus and I would not blame him for those things.”

Dvorkovich felt that in cases where a player acts out physically during a game, an arbiter should give a soft warning. But “if there are no complaints (from the other player), it doesn’t go anywhere.”

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Right after the fist thump incident, Carlsen had spoken out about how this year’s Norway Chess could be the last classical event he plays.

When asked about Carlsen quitting classical chess, Dvorkovich said: “That would be unfortunate, but I hope that he’ll come back to some classical events or some mixed events. Magnus is the best player, but not the only strong player in the world. He’s in his mid-thirties already, so it’s good that he’s doing other things as well.”