Hans Niemann likely cheated over 100 times, top chess site finds

A 72-page report by Chess.com seen by the WSJ says Hans Niemann had seemingly obtained unlawful help in additional than 100 on-line video games.

A child reaches for a giant chess piece on a board
A baby reaches for a large chess piece on a board in the course of the FIDE Chess World Championship Dubai 2021, on December 1, 2021 [File: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP]

An investigation carried out by Chess.com, the sport’s prime on-line platform, has discovered that Hans Moke Niemann has cheated greater than 100 instances, based on The Wall Avenue Journal.

The American grandmaster, 19, had just lately denied allegations of dishonest after five-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen revealed a press release final month accusing him of dishonest extra usually than he beforehand admitted to, pointing to how Niemann’s over-the-board progress has been “uncommon”.

Final month, Carlsen withdrew from the 2022 Sinquefield Cup after dropping to Niemann within the third spherical of the event. Per week later, Carslen resigned after enjoying only one transfer in opposition to Niemann within the Champions Chess Tour.

The Norwegian stated that Niemann had outplayed him utilizing black chess items – a drawback within the chess world – with out “absolutely concentrating on the sport in important positions”.

Niemann has acknowledged dishonest on-line twice, when he was 12 and 16, however says he has by no means performed fraudulently in a face-to-face match and is even keen to play nude to show his good religion.

Now, a 72-page probe by Chess.com, seen by the WSJ, says Niemann had seemingly obtained unlawful help in additional than 100 on-line video games, as just lately as 2020, together with prize cash contests.

‘Uncommon patterns’

The report corroborated Carslen’s suspicions concerning Niemann’s rise by means of the elite ranks of aggressive in-person chess, noting “many outstanding alerts and strange patterns in Hans’ path as a participant”.

“Outdoors his on-line play, Hans is the quickest rising prime participant in Classical [over-the-board] chess in trendy historical past,” the report stated. “Wanting purely at score, Hans ought to be categorized as a member of this group of prime younger gamers. Whereas we don’t doubt that Hans is a gifted participant, we be aware that his outcomes are statistically extraordinary.”

Chess.com, which makes use of a number of cheating-detection instruments, together with these which evaluate strikes advised by chess engines, stated Niemann was 17 years previous throughout the latest violations, and that he had livestreamed 25 contests.

This prompted the web site to shut his account on the time, and a letter despatched to Niemann notes his “blatant dishonest” to be able to progress his score in several video games, together with in a single in opposition to Russian chess star Ian Nepomniachtchi.

The report added that Niemann had confessed to the allegations in a non-public telephone name with the platform’s chief chess officer, Danny Rensch.

Chess.com traditionally handles bans in personal, however its investigation into the 19 12 months previous got here after he publicly questioned his ban from the location’s World Championship, saying it felt “compelled to share the premise” for its selections.

FIDE, the chess world’s governing physique, is conducting its personal investigation into the Niemann-Carlsen affair.

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