Firouzja: New Career In Fashion Industry Takes Time Away From Chess
Entire world quantity-4 GM Alireza Firouzja has been mysteriously inactive in the last 12 months with remarkably several tournament appearances. In a rare, new job interview, the teenager confirmed rumors about him trying to find an option profession.
Firouzja, the Iranian-born French teenage prodigy hailed as a potential successor to the chess throne, has not performed a single more than-the-board tournament given that September. His past function was his outstanding double victory in St. Louis, winning the Speedy & Blitz function and Sinquefield Cup, his only classical occasion since the Candidates, previous July.
The 19-calendar year-aged had a disappointing consequence in the Airthings Masters 2023, the place he certified for the knockout stage, but was then crushed convincingly by GM Arjun Erigaisi.
Though Firouzja once in a while demonstrates up in Titled Tuesday tournaments, his followers are left mystified as to why the younger star has been so inactive. Now the teen has, for the very first time, shared an explanation.

Speaking to chess streamer WFM Alessia Santeramo right before an online match against GM Praggnanandhaa R., Firouzja verified rumors that have been circulating for a whilst:
A career in manner style and design. Fairly cryptically, he responded to the rumors:
“Indeed, I was in this industry for two several years now. It truly is form of a severe factor. It can be bettering each and every day and, certainly, it can be sort of a serious job.”
Much more specifics on the extent of his new vocation, or how substantially this impacts his chess, is not nonetheless crystal clear, but Firouzja extra:
“It is using time from my chess, but I like to have each issues together.”
The young star does not intend to stop his chess occupation just yet. Firouzja also revealed that he will be far more lively in the second section of 2023, actively playing in the Grand Chess Tour and in Norway Chess, which is established to consider place in May possibly. The rest of the subject in these gatherings is yet to be announced.
Chess.com reached out to Firouzja for remark but is however to acquire an reply.
It would not be the to start with time a best chess player has experienced a job outdoors of chess. GMs Magnus Carlsen and Alexander Grischuk are between the chess stars participating in poker actively.
Numerous other players have also given up expert chess, possibly partly or entirely, to chase careers in other fields. One example is GM Gata Kamsky, who had an 8-calendar year split from chess starting up when he was 22 and was rated sixth in the globe in 1996, taking up regulation faculty.
French GM Joel Lautier, who peaked 15th in the globe, retired from his chess occupation in 2006 to come to be a businessman.