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Topline
Hans Niemann, the 19-year-old American grandmaster who last month was accused of cheating by World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen after a shocking upset, was found to have “likely cheated” more than 100 times, according to an investigation by Chess.com, the world’s largest online chess platform.
A chess player stops the timer as he participates in the Chicago Public School City Chess … [+]
Key Facts
The investigation, a report from which was seen by the Wall Street Journal, found Niemann likely “received illegal assistance” in more than 100 online chess matches that took place as recently as 2020 when he was 17 years old, allegations that contradict his earlier claims that he only cheated on several occasions as a young teenager.
A letter sent to Niemann by Chess.com’s chief chess officer Danny Rensch last month detailed how Niemann’s suspicious moves tended to coincide with Niemann opening up new screens on his computer, which could indicate that Niemann was using a chess engine, according to the Journal.
Niemann “privately confessed” to the allegations–which included cheating in chess games where prize money was awarded–and was banned from the site, according to the Journal.
While the Chess.com investigation largely focused on Niemann’s online games, the report noted that his rise in rankings for in-person chess was “statistically extraordinary” and that specific games may merit further investigation (the sport’s international governing body, FIDE, is conducting a separate investigation).
Niemann did not immediately respond to a Forbes request for comment.
Surprising Fact
The Chess.com report revealed that dozens of chess grandmasters have been caught cheating on the platform, including four players who are ranked among the top 100 in the world. All four confessed, according to the report. The platform’s cheating bans are typically dealt with privately, according to the Journal.
Key Background
The controversy surrounding Niemann’s alleged cheating began early last month at the in-person Sinquefield Cup in St Louis, where Niemann–the lowest ranked player at the tournament– defeated Carlsen in the third round, marking the first time in two years that the Chess World Champion lost a match. Carlsen later withdrew from the tournament altogether without explanation, only posting a cryptic social media post that was widely interpreted as an accusation of cheating against Niemann. During their highly anticipated online rematch weeks later on Sept. 19, Carlsen made just one move against Niemann before abruptly resigning from the online chess game. Carlsen unequivocally accused Niemann of cheating Sept. 26, saying in a statement that Niemann has “cheated more–and more recently–than he has publicly admitted.” During their match in St. Louis, Niemann “wasn’t tense or even fully concentrating” during critical moments of the game, despite playing in a way that Carlsen said “only a handful of players can do.” Chess.com is set to acquire Carlsen’s “Play Magnus” app for nearly $83 million as part of a deal announced in August, but the report said Carlsen “didn’t talk with, ask for, or directly influence Chess.com’s decisions at all.”
Further Reading
Chess Investigation Finds That U.S. Grandmaster ‘Likely Cheated’ More Than 100 Times (Wall Street Journal)
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen Accuses Hans Niemann Of Cheating
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen Resigns From Match After Just One Move Against Player At Center Of ‘Cheating’ Scandal
