Carlsen's Table Slam Sparks Debate: Should Chess Players Be Held Accountable for Unsportsmanlike Behavior?

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World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen ended the year 2025 on a high note by clinching the World Rapid and Blitz titles in Doha. His thrilling matches during the FIDE tournament included a memorable showdown against Arjun Erigaisi in the Blitz Championship. In a moment reminiscent of his Norway Chess loss against D Gukesh, Carlsen's clock ran out, causing him to slam the table in frustration. Arbiter Chris Bird shared a video of the incident on X, stating that no equipment was harmed and Carlsen apologized immediately. However, chess veteran Levon Aronian took issue with the arbiter's post, warning against normalizing tantrums in competitive chess. "It's essential to hold players accountable for unsportsmanlike behavior, as it can affect others in the middle of a game," Aronian wrote. Bird responded, clarifying that his intention was not to condone Carlsen's behavior, but to report the incident as it happened. He noted that the matter was handed over to his superiors to handle accordingly.