Chess: Niemann probably cheated greater than 100 occasions on-line, says report

Hans Niemann, the 19-year-old on the centre of chess dishonest allegations, most likely did so greater than 100 occasions in on-line video games, says a newly printed report. Nevertheless, the 72-page assertion by chess.com discovered no clear proof that Niemann has cheated in any video games over the board, together with his controversial win final month over Magnus Carlsen, which prompted the world champion to withdraw from the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis.

The scandal escalated when Carlsen resigned a web-based recreation to Niemann on his second transfer, and indicated that he would refuse to play the Californian in future. 

Niemann had beforehand denied on-line dishonest besides for 2 events when he was aged 12 and 16, however the report particulars many later incidents, together with seven on-line video games towards Ian Nepomniachtchi, the Russian who challenged Carlsen for the world title in 2021 and who once more certified for a world championship match earlier this yr.

Chess.com’s anti-cheating weapons embody analytics that examine strikes to these advisable by chess engines, research of a participant’s previous performances and strengths, and detection of behaviour similar to opening up one other browser when taking part in. Not like dishonest over the board which is considered as a significant crime, there’s a widespread tolerance of it on-line. The report reveals that “dozens” of grandmasters have been caught dishonest on chess.com, together with a number of the present world high 100, all of whom confessed.

Though the dimensions of the issue will shock many, the crimson line which has not but been clearly crossed is whether or not Niemann has ever cheated on the board. Chess.com leaves a last judgment to the world governing physique Fide, which final week arrange its personal fee of inquiry. Nevertheless, the report notes that the beginning of Niemann’s over the board surge, which has taken him from a mean grandmaster as much as a 2700 ranking and the world high 40 in two years, coincided along with his banning from chess.com in 2020.

A few of Niemann’s tournaments are thought of of explicit curiosity, of which probably the most vital will be the American’s spectacular victory on the annual Capablanca Memorial in Cuba in April this yr, the place Niemann received unbeaten by a transparent two-point margin.

This week chess is again in St Louis, the place the opening spherical of the US championship on Wednesday (7pm BST begin) is dwell and free to look at on-line. Niemann’s first opponent is the youngest entrant Christopher Yoo, 15.

A key recreation will probably be Saturday’s fourth spherical the place Niemann meets the previous world No 2 Fabiano Caruana, who has beforehand described Niemann’s play as “bizarre”.

Niemann is seeded sixth out of 14 within the US championship, a well-known conventional occasion which the legendary Bobby Fischer received all eight occasions he competed, the primary at age 14 and as soon as with a 100 per cent rating.

The No6 seeding is important as a result of the highest 5 are the grandmasters from the US Olympiad group, led by the world high 10 gamers Caruana, Wesley So, and Levon Aronian.

Puzzle 2489

Gata Kamsky v Judit Polgar, Buenos Aires 1994. The all-time No1 lady was doubly threatened with quick checkmate by 1 d8=Q mate or 1 Qf8 mate. A horrible hazard, but Polgar discovered a approach to flip the tables.

Can you discover Black’s profitable transfer?

Click on right here for answer