NEW DELHI: A simple selfie request turned into an unexpected situation at the Grenke Freestyle Chess Festival in Germany. Just before the match, Kazakh player Alua Nurman asked Magnus Carlsen for a selfie. He accepted without hesitation and posed with her. However, immediately after that, he informed the tournament official about the interaction. In accordance with the rules of chess, Nurman’s phone was immediately taken away and the match began normally.Chess tournaments follow strict rules on electronic devices to prevent cheating. Players may not use or maintain access to phones during games unless they have special permission.
Devices must be turned off and stored safely. Because Nurman took out his phone for the selfie, officials had to immediately confiscate it.Look:Despite the awkward moment, the match went off without delay. Carlsen stayed focused and continued his strong performance in the tournament, eventually defeating Nurman as part of his continued winning streak.Interestingly, a similar situation occurred at the same event the previous year. Another player had taken a selfie with Carlsen, and then the officers also took his phone.Nurman then shared that this earlier incident inspired her. “Last year, Etienne Bacrot also took a selfie. I thought, why not? I’m very grateful that Magnus agreed to this,” she told ChessBase India.The tournament has also seen other unusual moments, including a complaint about a wristwatch distracting an opponent, which was eventually removed.
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Overall, while the selfie created a brief stir, it highlighted the seriousness with which chess authorities enforce the rules, even in seemingly harmless situations.