The world champion, Magnus Carlsen, now refuses to play him. Though Mr Carlsen won’t say so directly, perhaps for legal reasons, the suspicion is that Hans Moke Niemann uses hidden computers to help him win. Does he?
be much easier if you could hide a rocket in your back pocket. The problem with chess is that you sort of can. In a scandal that has captivated the chess world, the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, now refuses to play another top player, Hans Moke Niemann. Though Mr Carlsen won’t say so directly, perhaps for legal reasons—he speaks via hints and cryptic internet memes—the suspicion is that Mr Niemann uses hidden computers to help him win.
Mr Carlsen had the white pieces, and hence the first move. He had not lost with this advantage in a classical format for over a year. But things quickly took a turn. Mr Niemann played well, a bit too well for Mr Carlsen. He had the impression that Mr Niemann “wasn’t tense or even fully concentrating on the game in critical positions, while outplaying me as black in a way I think only a handful of players can do.
The second development came the next day. Mr Carlsen announced, via Twitter, that he was withdrawing from the event. His only explanation was to attach an internet meme video, in which a famous football manager says: “I prefer really not to speak. If I speak, I am in big trouble.” That implied that Mr Carlsen thought Mr Niemann was cheating. And when the two met in an online tournament a few weeks later, Mr Carlsen resigned after making just one move.
At the highest level, even microscopic hints—such as knowing some daring move is possible—can offer a decisive advantage. This week, allegations emerged that Mr Niemann had received a lot more help than that in previous games. Chess.com, a website where most of the world’s top players play, deactivated Mr Niemann’s account and withdrew an invitation to a forthcoming tournament. The website had been sitting on evidence that, in its view, he had cheated much more than he had let on.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Viola Davis on pushing for bold roles and The Woman King being her 'magnus opus'Only just out in cinemas here, Davis' new film The Woman King is already off to a very solid start at the international box office, but it wasn't easy to get a movie about black women past those who control the purse strings.
Read more »
Chess grandmaster accused of 'cheating with anal beads' gets thorough body scan searchAmerican chess grandmaster Hans Niemann received a thorough search at the US Chess Championship in St Louis, Missouri amid rumours he cheated against Magnus Carlsen.
Read more »
Chess grandmaster accused of 'cheating with anal beads' gets thorough body scan searchAmerican chess grandmaster Hans Niemann received a thorough search at the US Chess Championship in St Louis, Missouri amid rumours he cheated against Magnus Carlsen.
Read more »
Chess player accused of widespread cheating Hans Niemann breaks silence saying he 'won't back down'Niemann, 19, spoke after winning a US Championship game in St Louis on Wednesday and after a Chess.com investigation found it is 'likely' Niemann has cheated in more than 100 online games.
Read more »
Hans Moke Niemann is known to have cheated at chess. Does he still?The world champion, Magnus Carlsen, now refuses to play him. Though Mr Carlsen won’t say so directly, perhaps for legal reasons, the suspicion is that Hans Moke Niemann uses hidden computers to help him win. Does he?
Read more »