World chess champion Magnus Carlsen has commented in detail on his withdrawal in a duel with Hans Niemann and for the first time specifically accused the US teenager of cheating.
Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen gave a detailed statement on Monday evening (September 26) about his dispute with US talent Hans Niemann. In a statement that he shared on his Twitter channel, among other things, the Norwegian himself raised specific allegations of fraud against the 19-year-old talent and explained his sudden exit from the “Sinquefield Cup” after a defeat against Niemann in early September and the task after only a move against Niemann in last week’s Julius Baer Generation Cup.
In his statement, Carlsen explains that he had already thought about dropping out before the start of the “Sinquefield Cup” after Niemann had moved up to the field at short notice. “In the end I decided to play.”
The 31-year-old cites cheating in chess as an existential problem and specifically attacks his opponent: “I think that Niemann cheated more often than that he publicly admitted – and that too in the recent past.”
Suspicious behavior on the board
Carlsen found Niemann’s behavior on the board unusual in the Sinquefield Cup duel. “I got the impression he wasn’t even tense or fully focused on the game in the critical positions while outplaying me with Black in a way only a handful of players could. This game changed my perspective on things.”
actually have Investigations by the referees at the tournament in St. Louis found no evidence of unfair play. Experts analyzed that Carlsen’s defeat by Niemann could have been avoided if the 31-year-old had simply played better moves.
Doubts about Niemann’s statements
The American top talent had after Carlsen’s sudden departure admitted in an emotional interview to cheating online on two occasions, aged 12 and 16, but never in presence at the board. Carlsen is not alone in doubting that the talented US professional only cheated twice in online games. As part of the “Sinquefield Cup” allegations, the world’s largest chess platform, Chess.com, blocked Niemann’s account. Apparently they believe they have found evidence there that speaks for more frequent fraud. The operators of the platform have not gone into more detail to date.
“If you want me to strip completely naked, I will do it,” Niemann said, adding: “I know I’m clean.” The fact that a website is said to have actually offered Niemann a million dollars to play chess naked shows that the biggest chess scandal of the last 15 years took on more and more bizarre traits while Carlsen remained silent.
The Norwegian’s allegations
Carlsen doesn’t want to play against cheaters
One must do something against cheating in chess, Carlsen continued in his statement. “I don’t want to play against people who have repeatedly cheated in the past because I don’t know what they’ll be able to do in the future.” He couldn’t say more at the moment, “but I hope that the truth in this matter will come out, whatever it may be”.