Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian calls on $25 million-worth Magnus Carlsen to start his own chess organization after dress code controversy

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian recently urged Magnus Carlsen to form his very own chess organization. Ohanian's words for Carlsen stemmed from the Norwegian grandmaster's controversial disqualification from the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship.

Earlier this month, Magnus Carlsen, who has a net worth of $25 million (as per Celebrity Net Worth) came under fire for wearing jeans at the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship. The World No. 1 since July 2011 was initially handed a $200 penalty for sporting jeans, which are prohibited under tournament regulations.

However, Carlsen was eventually disqualified after the eighth round for refusing the chief abitrer's request to replace the jeans with an attire conforming to the regulations of the event. On Saturday, December 28, an X (formerly Twitter) user reacted to FIDE's official statement on Carlsen's dress code violation, opining:

"Magnus should start his own chess organization and event series, and let folks dress however they please"

Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and tennis legend Serena Williams' husband since November 2017, took notice of this reaction, and proceeded to echo the sentiments of the user who posted it. Ohanian suggested that the time is now for Carlsen to form a chess organization and event series of his own, where dress code rules could be more relaxed.

"Definitely the right time to do it," Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian wrote.

Ohanian himself knows a thing or two about chess. Earlier this year, he took to social media and revealed that he was teaching the board game to Olympia, Ohanian and Williams' elder daughter.

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian joked about getting beaten at chess by daughter Olympia

Alexis Ohanian (L) and Olympia Ohanian (R) (Source: Getty)

Olympia Ohanian was welcomed by Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams as the couple's first child back in September 2017. A few days before she turned seven this year, Olympia and her father played a game of chess. Alexis Ohanian captured the moment and later shared it via Instagram.

Through the post's caption, he laid bare that he is helping Olympia learn chess and also joked that the now-seven-year-old can easily beat him.

"Making sure this little Armenian girl knows how to play (it won’t be hard to beat Papa)," Ohanian wrote.

Ohanian and Williams welcomed their second child Adira River, another daughter, in August 2023. The Reddit co-founder is a serial entrepreneur and investor, and he has been particularly playing a pivotal role in the growth of women's sports in the USA. He has already invested heavily in women's soccer and track and field, and recently announced a "multi-year commitment" for NCAA women's basketball.