It’s about two opposing grandmasters, new allegations of cheating, a lot of outrage – and even speculation about vibrating sex toys. Niemann is accused of cheating in more than 100 online games.
The focus is on two pretty brilliant players. On the one hand Carlsen (31), Norwegian, something like a pop star on the board. On the other hand, Niemann (19), American, something of a crosshead on the board.
Carlsen, who is currently at the European Club Cup in Mayrhofen in Tyrol, accuses Niemann of cheating. “I believe that cheating in chess is a big deal and an existential threat to the game. I also believe that chess organizers and all those who care about the sanctity of the game we love so much should give serious thought to the security measures and methods of detecting cheaters when playing chess on the board,” Carlsen recently wrote in a kind of summary of his impressions of the past few weeks.
And then he pointed in the direction of the American: “I think that Niemann – even recently – cheated more than he publicly admitted.” What happened? The first incident between the two grandmasters occurred at the beginning of September. At the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, the superstar surprisingly lost to Niemann and withdrew from a tournament for the first time in his career. The Norwegian did not give any reasons at the time.
Possible types of fraud? Imagination knows no grudges
The chess scene interpreted Carlsen’s exit as an allegation of fraud against Niemann. But how should the climber of the scene have done that? Here, too, the internet took over with its potential for imaginative speculation. It would be possible to receive signals of a vibrating nature through anal beads. This way you can plan future moves.
Video: The President of the Austrian Chess Federation, Christof Tschohl, speaks about the allegations of cheating by chess player Hans Niemann
“Chess is a game of information. You don’t have to predict the exact move, it’s enough to indicate that a big move is coming, so something special I have to look out for. That’s enough, a hint,” explained US Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, who also came up with a fake tooth as a possible cheating tool.
Tesla boss Elon Musk found the brewing scandal so entertaining that he modified a quote from Arthur Schopenhauer and later deleted the tweet. The “talent hits a target no one else can hit”, the genius hits “a target no one else can see (because it’s in your butt).”
Niemann went on the offensive. “If they want me to strip completely naked, I will do it,” he announced. “I don’t care because I know I’m clean. They want me to play in a closed box with no electronic transmission, I don’t care. I’m here to win and that’s my goal no matter how. “
investigation report published
However, Niemann admitted in an interview during the Sinquefield Cup that he had cheated twice as a teenager, aged 12 and 16, in online games, but never in person at the chessboard. But maybe there was more? Niemann is said to have even cheated in more than 100 online games. This emerges from an investigation report by the chess.com portal, which the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Tuesday. Niemann is said to have cheated many times more often than on the two occasions that he himself had conceded.
According to the WSJ, Niemann admitted to the allegations in the report and was banned from the site, popular with both amateurs and chess grandmasters, for some time. According to the information, Niemann last cheated in 2020, including in tournaments involving prize money.
According to the WSJ, the chess.com report makes no statement as to whether Niemann also cheated in direct duels. However, there is an indication that Niemann’s strongest ideas deserve further investigation based on the data. The World Chess Federation announced last week that it would set up a commission of inquiry. So this thriller should get at least one more sequel.
Source: Nachrichten
