When did the unrest begin?
After Carlsen pulled out of the $500,000 (£433,000) Sinquefield Cup after a shock loss to Niemann with white pieces. The day after the defeat, the world champion posted a cryptic tweet that included a video clip of Jose Mourinho saying: “If I talk, I’m in big trouble.” There was soon frenzied speculation about Carlsen’s motives, with American grandmaster and popular streamer Hikaru Nakamura claiming the world champion had withdrawn because he thought Niemann was “probably cheating”.
What happened next?
Organizers of the Sinquefield Cup have announced additional anti-cheating precautions, including a 15-minute delay in the transmission of moves and increased radio frequency identification checks. Niemann, who had won two of his first three games in the tournament, lost or tied his last six. However, no evidence of cheating was found.
What explanations have been given for Niemann’s victory?
One theory making the rounds on the internet, popularized by Elon Musk, is that Niemann used vibrating anal beads to help him. Another suggestion was that the American may have somehow leaked the Carlsen opener’s preparation. Both are refuted by Niemann. But others suggested that the American, who says he spends 10-12 hours a day playing chess, may simply have been the best player of the day.
So, how would these beads help a chess player win?
The Guardian spoke to two sources in the world of chess, who both said that if top players knew there was a move that gave them a significant advantage – perhaps by using some sort of signal – it would help them find it more often than not.
How did Niemann react?
After his victory against Carlsen, Niemann claimed that “by some ridiculous miracle” he had guessed what his opponent’s unusual opening would be and prepared deeply for it. “It must be embarrassing for the world champion to lose to me,” he said. “I feel bad for him.” The following day, Niemann admitted that he had previously cheated in computer-aided online events when he was 12 and 16 – but insisted he was now “clean” and was even prepared to play naked to prove his innocence. However, the website Chess.com has since said they believed Niemann had cheated online more often and had shown him the evidence. Niemann has been banned from the Chess.com website and events. Hans Niemann (right) has admitted cheating earlier in his career but denies he cheated to beat Magnus Carlsen this month. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club
How do you cheat at chess?
This is much easier to do over the Internet, where some players have taken to using computer engines to help them find good moves. It’s more difficult on the board where players are often pre-scanned for electrical devices. This does not mean, however, that it is not possible. Perhaps the most popular case involved French players Sébastien Feller, Arnaud Hauchard and Cyril Marzolo, who were found guilty of cheating at the 2010 Chess Olympiad. The complex scheme involved Marzolo analyzing Feller’s games online, before sending suggestions to Hauchard via SMS. He then relayed them to Feller standing behind one of the other players’ tables in a predetermined coded system, where each table represented a move to play. In 2019, Feller was given a six-month suspended prison sentence for his conduct. More recently, Latvian grandmaster Igors Rausis was banned for six years after he was caught looking up moves on a phone he had hidden in a toilet. At the recent Olympiad in India, some players were surprised to have their heads scanned with electromagnetic wands. One theory doing the rounds was that the organizers were looking for devices hidden in the teeth.
Why did Carlsen and Niemann play again so soon and what happened?
Both players were invited to take part in the Julius Baer Generation Cup of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour and accepted. Both players squared off again on Monday night, this time online rather than face-to-face. But Carlsen caused more controversy by quitting after just one move.
How did the other players react?
The response was mixed. Top grandmaster Anish Giri said it was “very clear” that Carlsen had no direct evidence that Niemann had cheated him. But he said: “It’s a big problem playing people who have admitted to cheating online in the past because you lose trust in them and that’s a big, big problem.” Meanwhile, Carlsen’s Norwegian team-mate Jon Ludvig Hammer condemned the decision to quit after one move. “It’s completely unacceptable behavior to lose on purpose, it’s the most unsportsmanlike behavior in the world of sport,” he said, before suggesting that Carlsen could be punished himself for his actions.
Where does all this leave us?
With a Mexican confrontation of epic proportions. The world’s leading expert on chess cheating, Dr Kenneth Regan, has analyzed all of Niemann’s games over the past two years and his conclusion is that there is no reason to suspect him of cheating. However, Carlsen, the most powerful player in chess, is clearly convinced.
