English Chess Forum

I've allowed the vote to be changed in case we have any FIDE officials present

Isn't this the wrong question to be asking? The regulations allowed "boots, flats, mid-heel or high-heel shoes" to be worn and prohibited sneakers of "all styles" and "athletic footwear" saying "more formal shoe options" should be worn.

The player's contention was that the footwear shown are boots and therefore permitted. It would be difficult to argue with that, but you could argue that they are not formal footwear.

Training for what exactly?

I have asked Nancy Sinatra about when is a boot not a boot.

However, for them to be boots then they would need to have standard features of boots which would include:



Generally boots are waterproof unless you are in water so deep that they are submerged.

Clearly the bedroom slippers (or whatever they are) at the start of this thread are not boots.

John Upham wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 2:09 pm

Clearly the bedroom slippers (or whatever they are) at the start of this thread are not boots.

According to the FIDE style police they are "laceless white winter or snow boots" and inappropriate footwear for the event.

"According to the FIDE style police they are "laceless white winter or snow boots" and inappropriate footwear for the event."

I think FIDE have correctly identified them, but inappropriateness surely depends on where you are playing. Too many FIDE edicts are based on the players staying in the venue, (e.g. phones, clothes, shoes), and FIDE doesn't seem to understand (or more likely doesn't care) that most players travel to events.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 2:32 pm

According to the FIDE style police they are "laceless white winter or snow boots" and inappropriate footwear for the event.

I'd like to see these "snow boots" worn in deep snow and note just how effective they are.