Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen has publicly admitted that Hans Niemann cheated. Carlsen broke the silence on the controversy that has rocked chess by accusing Hans Niemann of more cheating.
Carlsen also questioned Niemann’s stellar rise over the past year, calling it unusual. He also admitted that he was suspicious of the 19-year-old American’s mannerisms when Carlsen lost to Nieman with the black pieces at the Sinquefield Cup early this month.
Carlsen said he pulled out of a tournament for the first time in his career due to this reason. Last week, Carlsen stunned the chess again by resigning from an online game with Nieman after just one move.
Carlsen tweeted a statement in which he said, when Niemann was invited last minute to the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, I strongly considered withdrawing before the event, but I ultimately chose to play. I believe that Niemann has cheated more and more recently than he has publicly admitted, he said.
Moreover, Carlsen said Nieman’s over-the-board progress has been unusual. Throughout our game in the Sinquefield Cup, I had the impression that he wasn’t fully concentrating on the game in critical positions while outplaying me as black in a way I only think a handful of players can do, he said.
After winning the match against the world champion, Nieman said that by some ridiculous miracle, he had guessed what his opponent’s unusual opening would be, and he prepared for it. Moreover, he said It must be embarrassing for the world champion to lose to me, and I felt bad for him.
Nieman had denied the recent allegations and insisted he is now clean, while he also admitted he cheated in online events as a 12- and 16-year-old. Chess.com had also banned Nieman from the site and events.
On Monday, Carlsen said that he would not play against Niemann or any player he believes to have cheated. Moreover, he said, we must do something about cheating. I don’t want to play against people for my part going forward that have cheated repeatedly in the past because I don’t know what they are capable of doing in the future, he said.
I believe that cheating in chess is a big deal and an existential threat to the game and chess organizers should seriously consider increasing security measures and methods of cheat detection for over-the-board chess, Carlsen said.
Carlsen said, I hope the truth on this matter comes out, whatever it may be, and I know that my actions have frustrated many in the chess community. I want to play chess at the highest level in the best events, he said.
