Chess Prodigy Hans Niemann and World Champion Magnus Carlsen Resolve Dispute, Put Cheating Allegations to Rest
Chess prodigy Hans Niemann and former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen have reached an agreement outside of court, effectively resolving the dispute that arose from cheating allegations last year. The resolution was confirmed by online platform Chess.com on Monday.
Niemann, a 20-year-old US chess prodigy, had filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Carlsen, Chess.com, and US grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in October 2022, following accusations that he had cheated during a game. However, the lawsuit was dismissed by a US judge in June.
In light of the settlement, Chess.com has reinstated Niemann’s account and extended an invitation for him to participate in future events. Niemann expressed his enthusiasm for competing against Carlsen in chess rather than continuing the legal battle.
The dispute between the two chess players originated after Niemann scored a surprise victory over Carlsen at the prestigious Sinquefield Cup tournament in September 2022, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Carlsen subsequently withdrew from the tournament and accused Niemann of cheating, an allegation Niemann vehemently denied. Chess.com later banned Niemann and published a report suggesting that he had cheated in over 100 online games.
Niemann admitted to cheating when he was 12 and 16 years old in online chess games but firmly maintained his innocence in relation to over-the-board games. Chess.com stated that they stand by their report and findings, clarifying that they found no determinative evidence to support Niemann cheating in in-person games.
Following the Sinquefield Cup, Carlsen refused to compete against Niemann in an online match, resigning after just one move. However, in light of the resolution, Carlsen expressed his willingness to face Niemann in future events if they are paired together.
This agreement marks an end to the legal battle and provides an opportunity for both chess players to focus on their passion for the game. Both parties have expressed their willingness to move forward without further litigation, allowing them to continue their chess careers on amicable terms.
The resolution brings much-awaited closure to a contentious chapter in the world of chess and paves the way for these exceptional players to display their skills and sportsmanship on the chessboard. Chess enthusiasts around the globe eagerly anticipate future encounters between Niemann and Carlsen, knowing that the focus will now be solely on their remarkable talents and strategic gameplay.
