The serious allegations of cheating against chess grandmaster Hans Niemann continue to make waves. After world champion Magnus Carlsen hinted at the alleged role of the American Maxim Dlugy, he has now put up a fight.
“Although I’m familiar with the famous dispute between Magnus [Carlsen] and Hans [Niemann] absolutely nothing to do, I am now forced to defend myself against completely absurd and defamatory allegations against me,” wrote the chess grandmaster in a statement.
Carlsen said in an interview with “chess24”: “I have to say that I am very impressed by Niemann’s game and I think his mentor Maxim Dlugy must have done a great job.” Dlugy himself has been accused of cheating in online chess on “chess24” in the past.
“It seems that Magnus [Carlsen] was instructed by his advisors to avoid direct accusations and instead to make insinuations,” said the 56-year-old on the words of the Norwegian world champion.
Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating “without saying much, and when it came time to say something sensational, he insinuated that Hans has a mentor – that is, me – who helps him play well, which Magnus put on amounts to fraud,” says Dlugy.
Carlsen’s plan was to “prove guilt by association,” Dlugy continued: “If Hans has a mentor who is a cheater, Hans must be a cheater by his definition.”
Speaking about his relationship with Niemann, the Russian-born said: “The two of us have not worked on tournaments or pre-match preparations either now or in the last eight years, with the exception of the four-hour session leading up to the 2021 US Junior Championship, which was solely focused on finals.”
Chess: Serious allegations of fraud against Hans Niemann
Carlsen had publicly accused Niemann of fraud. In addition, in mid-September, the chess world champion gave up a game in the Julius Baer Generation Cup against the American after just one move in protest.
The online site “chess.com” then came in its investigation (Here is the original document) came to the conclusion that Niemann is said to have resorted to unauthorized computer support in many cases.
The 19-year-old had previously admitted to using computer help during a game when he was 12 and when he was 16.