Last week, world chess champion Magnus Carlsen lost to 19-year-old Hans Niemann in the Sinkfield Cup, ending Magnus’ 53-match unbeaten streak in the classic. Magnus lost the game the day following and announced his retirement,
This is an extremely rare move, especially among the top players in elite events. He also tweeted a video of Portuguese football manager José Mourinho, saying: “The water is so deep that I really prefer not to speak. If I speak, I’m in big trouble.”
I’ve withdrawn from the tournament. I’ve always enjoyed playing in the @STLChessCluband hope to be back in the future https://t.co/YFSpl8er3u
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) September 5, 2022
In the clip, Mourinho made the remarks at a post-match press conference, alluding to the fact that his team may have lost the game because of a questionable referee.
Therefore, netizens also mostly interpret this tweet from Magnus as implying that Niemann cheated in the game in some way.
Afterwards, Hikaru Nakamura, once world No. 2, said on his Twitch stream, “For over 6 months, Niemann has not played any prize money tournaments on Chess.com. That’s one thing I’ll say. , and the only thing I have to say on this topic.”
Some observers believe this means Mr Niemann cheated on the site and, by extension, the Sinkfield Cup.
However, in response to the numerous controversies questioning him regarding cheating, Niemann strenuously denied the allegations of cheating at the Zinkfield Cup, but did admit that he had cheated in online competitions in the past when he was 12 years old.
However, Niemann said that he has “returned to the right” and that he is “clean” now, and is even willing to compete naked in a “closed space where electronic signals are eliminated” to prove his innocence.
A major counterattack for the world chess champion
On the 20th, the two met once more in an online game. And this time Magnus Carlsen announced the set abandonment directly following taking a step. It caused an uproar in the chess world.
In the live broadcast of Chess24, the two players can be seen playing once morest each other. This is also the first time the two have met online since the last face-to-face battle.
However, it can be seen in the live broadcast that the world champion quickly gave up and interrupted the game following taking the first step with black.
“Magnus just gave up, got up and left,” said the Chess24 commentator. “He turned off his camera and that’s all we know now.”
Another shocker as @MagnusCarlsen simply resigns on move 2 vs. @HansMokeNiemann! https://t.co/2fpx8lplTI#ChessChamps #JuliusBaerGenerationCup pic.twitter.com/5PO7kdZFOZ
— chess24.com (@chess24com) September 19, 2022
While both players have since returned to their next scheduled match once morest other opponents, Magnus’ surprise move has shocked the chess world.
“This is unprecedented. I just, I can’t believe it,” said the Chess24 commentator. “Did it just happen?”
“Magnus just refused to play Niemann. He’s going to play the other games next, but he said: I’m not going to play him.” “That’s a very big statement.”
Did Niemann cheat?
Of the 10 players in the Sinkfield Cup, Niemann is the lowest rated player of all and the least likely to beat the world champion.
However, he did.
In fact, he was the first player in more than two years to beat Magnus with black on the online or face-to-face board.
Magnus is an all-around chess player who can play almost all openings, and is known for his accurate calculations, sober style and solid selection of openings, especially with white.
There’s no question that Niemann’s performance was a statistical anomaly, not just in this particular game but in his other games over the past year as well.
While there have been many questions regarding his cheating, there are also opinions in support of Niemann’s side.
“I did play Niemann at the Marshall Championship at the end of 2019, and he was tied for first place there,” said Irina Krush, a chess grandmaster who played once morest both. I knew he was a very strong up-and-coming player.” She added: “I think it would be nice if Magnus had his point of view as well, because for the chess world, this unresolved situation is really bad. .”
