Hans Niemann is suspected of cheating. EPA/AOP
A chess player who ended up in a violent storm during the fall Hans Niemann has, to the surprise of many, been chosen as the captain of the USA team for the WC team tournament in the latter half of November.
Although Niemann is handsomely eighth in the world rankings, the 19-year-old’s selection has been considered a surprise. He has sued Chess.com, the biggest website in chess, as well as several players from the top of the world, and demands 100 million dollars in compensation from them for sabotaging their careers.
Niemann is suspected of cheating in high-level tournaments. Chess.com blacklisted Niemann when the site published a comprehensive report on the young player’s rocket-like rise in the world rankings.
Niemann has admitted that he cheated when he was younger, but not at the professional level. Suspicions of fraud began when the so-called “Mozart of Chess”. Magnus Carlsen lost to the American and accused his opponent of cheating. In the next encounter, Carlsen added fuel to the flames by intentionally losing with protests.
Not all world stars are coming to the national team tournament played in Israel, as Norway and Russia, for example, are not participating. The US team is also weaker than its potential, because the country’s tops Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana stay at home.
Nakamura, known for streaming broadcasts, is one of the players from whom Niemann is seeking compensation. Caruana is the reigning champion of the United States and refuses to play in the same team as Niemann, doubts The Guardian.
Niemann hasn’t played in the tournament since he claimed $100 million in damages.
There will be no Finnish team in the tournament. Included are Israel, Poland, Ukraine, China, the Netherlands, France, India, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Spain, Azerbaijan and the United States.