Carlsen, Niemann settle cheating claims dispute
THE GUARDIAN – A dispute that caused scandal in the world of elite chess appears to have been settled after the players involved said they have moved on from their rift.
Hans Niemann, a rising star in the chess world, filed a $100m lawsuit against Magnus Carlsen, the website Chess.com and chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura after allegations he had cheated.
The allegations began after Niemann beat Carlsen, widely considered one of the greatest players in history, in a match at the Sinquefield Cup last year. The Norwegian implied that the then teenager had cheated. A week later Carlsen refused to play in an online game against the American, opting instead to resign.
Niemann has admitted to cheating online when he was 12 and 16, but insists he has never done so over the board. He also promised to play naked to prove his innocence after unfounded claims he may have used vibrating anal beads were amplified by Elon Musk.
Chess.com, which has millions of users around the world, concluded in a 72-page report released last October that Niemann had “likely cheated” in online matches between July 2015 and August 2020. Niemann denied those allegations. The report did not find any evidence that Niemann had cheated in in-person matches.
A US judge dismissed Niemann’s suit in June.
On Monday, chess.com said the parties had agreed to move forward with no further threat of legal action.
Carlsen, the world No 1, addressed the events at the Sinquefield Cup in his own statement.
“I acknowledge and understand Chess.com’s report, including its statement that there is no determinative evidence that Niemann cheated in his game against me at the Sinquefield Cup,” said the Norwegian. Niemann said he was looking forward to moving on from the lawsuit.