Chess star poses for selfie with opponent… then reports her

A teenage chess star posed for a smiling selfie with Magnus Carlsen - only to be reported by him moments later for breaking the rules.

Kazakh grandmaster Alua Nurman, 18, could not resist asking the world No1 for a picture as they sat down to face each other at a major tournament in Germany. 

Carlsen, 35, obliged, leaning across the board with a grin as she snapped the photo. 

But the light-hearted moment quickly turned awkward. The Norwegian got up, found a judge and reported his opponent for having a mobile phone at the table. 

The incident unfolded at the Grenke Chess Festival, where strict rules ban electronic devices to prevent cheating. 

Footage shared online shows Carlsen walking across the hall to fetch an official before returning to the table, where Nurman was told to hand over her phone. 

Carlsen is understood to have faced a dilemma when asked for the selfie: refuse and appear unsporting, or allow a clear breach of the rules. 

He opted for a middle course - agreeing to the picture before flagging the violation to officials. 

Nurman, a World Women's Team Chess Championship silver medallist, later appeared to see the funny side. 

Posting the selfie on Instagram, she wrote: 'Magnus stays Magnus' - a nod to his reputation as a stickler for the rules. 

She added that she had been inspired by French grandmaster Etienne Bacrot, who had attempted a similar stunt previously. 

'Last year, Etienne Bacrot also took a selfie,' she told ChessBase India. 'I thought like, why not? I'm very grateful that Magnus agreed to this.' 

The moment has sparked debate among chess fans, with some accusing Carlsen of being overly pedantic while others pointed out the ban applies to all players. 

There is no suggestion Nurman intended to cheat. But phones have long been a concern in competitive chess, where apps such as Stockfish can suggest optimal moves. 

Players have also been caught using hidden earpieces or coded vibrations to receive assistance. 

As a result, some tournaments now sweep competitors with detection wands, while others only allow phones if they are switched off. 

With prize money of up to £58,000 on offer at Grenke, organisers strictly enforce the rules. 

The selfie ultimately made little difference on the board - Carlsen went on to win.