Games ended prematurely and allegations of cheating: The chess elite is currently anything but harmonious. The focus is on world champion Magnus Carlsen and the 19-year-old up-and-coming American Hans Niemann.
Carlsen gave up after just one move in a duel with Niemann in the online tournament “Julius Baer Generation Cup”. The two have not only been on good terms with each other since Monday, there had also been conflicts before.
Allegations of fraud against Niemann
In early September, Carlsen surprisingly lost to Niemann at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis and withdrew from a tournament for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old Norwegian did not give any reasons, just tweeted an old interview by football coach José Mourinho, in which the Portuguese said: “I prefer not to say anything. If I say something, I get in big trouble, and I don’t want to get into big trouble.”
The chess scene interpreted Carlen’s exit as an allegation of fraud against Niemann. The American admitted in an interview during the Sinquefield Cup that he had cheated twice in online games as a teenager, aged 12 and 16, but never in person at the chessboard. However, many now have doubts and there is also heavy speculation about the form in which Niemann could have cheated. In any case, there is no evidence of fraud.
Will Carlsen talk after the tournament?
And Carlsen himself was careful not to say anything like that. “Unfortunately, I can’t comment on that, but people can draw their own conclusions from it and they did,” said Carlsen in an interview with the “chess24” portal when asked why he ended the game against Niemann so early . He added: “I have to say I’m very impressed with Niemann’s game and I think his mentor Maxim Dlugy must have done a great job.”
When asked why he mentioned Dlugy in this context, Carlsen declined to comment. A little more light could come into the matter next week. “I hope to say something more after the tournament.” The final of the chess tournament takes place on Sunday.