New Delhi: A simple selfie request turned into an unexpected situation at the Greinke Freestyle Chess Festival in Germany. Just before their match, Kazakh player Alva Norman asked Magnus Carlsen For selfies. He agreed without hesitation and posed with her. However, soon after, he informed a tournament official about the conversation. According to chess rules, Norman’s phone was immediately confiscated and the match resumed as usual.Chess tournaments follow strict rules regarding electronic equipment to prevent cheating. Players are not allowed to use or have access to phones during games unless they have special permission.
Equipment should be turned off and stored securely. Because Norman had his phone out to take a selfie, authorities had to immediately confiscate it.See:Despite the awkward moment, the game continued without any delay. Carlson stayed focused and continued his strong performance throughout the tournament, eventually defeating Norman as part of his ongoing winning streak.Interestingly, a similar situation occurred in the same event last year. Another player took a selfie with Karlsson, and officials later confiscated his phone.Norman later stated that this earlier incident influenced him. “Last year, Etienne Bacrot also took a selfie. I thought, why not? I’m very grateful that Magnus agreed,” she told Chase Base India.The tournament has also seen other unusual moments, including a complaint about an annoying watch worn by an opponent, which was eventually removed.All in all, while the selfie caused a brief stir, it highlighted how seriously chess officials enforce the rules even in seemingly innocuous situations.
