Hans Niemann: Chess master ‘won’t hold back’ amid cheating allegations

CNN
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The great chess master Hans Niemann said he ‘won’t back down’ Widespread accusations of fraud Intensification.

On Tuesday, an investigation by popular online platform Chess.com claimed Neiman was “probably cheated” in more than 100 online matches, a week after world champion Magnus Carlsen. America was explicitly accused of cheating In board games.

19-year-old Nieman has admitted cheating only twice in his chess career at ages 12 and 16, and said Wednesday that “chess speaks for itself” after defeating Christopher Yeo in the first round of the US Open in St. Louis.

“This game is a message for everyone,” Niemann said after his victory. “This whole thing started with me saying that chess speaks for itself and I think this game spoke for itself and showed the chess player that I am.

“He has also shown that I will not back down and will play the best game of chess here no matter what pressure I’m in.”

After giving only one answer, Niemann ended his post-match interview by saying, “It was such a beautiful game that I don’t even need to describe it.”

He then faces Jeffrey Cheung in the second round of the US Championship, which runs until October 20.

According to a Chess.com report, Neiman secretly admitted cheating to the site’s chief chess officer in 2020, which resulted in him being temporarily banned from the podium.

The report said that Chess.com closed Niemann’s account in September due to his previous admissions of cheating, doubts about his recent play and concerns about a sharp and inconsistent rise in his rank.

“While we do not doubt that Hans is a talented player, we note that his results are statistically unusual,” the report said.

CNN has previously contacted Neyman regarding the allegations in the report.

Carlsen first made outright allegations of Neiman cheating after two incidents between the duo – the first when Carlsen withdrew from the Sincofield Cup last month after defeat to Neiman, and the second when They left their match in the Julius Baer Generation Cup After making only one movement.

The Norwegian said he believed his rival had “cheated more – and more recently – than he has publicly admitted” and that his “progress at the council level has been extraordinary”.

Carlsen added: “Throughout our Sinquefield Cup match, I had the impression that he wasn’t nervous or even fully focused on the game in crucial situations, while he was beating me like I was black in a way that I think only a handful of players could do.” .

And FIDE, the sport’s global governing body, said it would Start an investigation After Carlsen’s claims.