Duel with Hans Niemann
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen breaks his silence – but only a little
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen has caused a stir in the chess world by suggesting cheating against his US opponent Hans Niemann
© Arun Sankar / AFP
After his spectacular withdrawal from the board in a duel against Hans Niemann, the chess world is puzzled about Magnus Carlsen’s motives. Now the world champion has commented on his behavior for the first time.
Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen spoke for the first time about his withdrawal in a duel with Hans Niemann and promised further explanations for the time after the online tournament. In an interview with the “chess24” portal, Carlsen answered the question as to why he had given up the game against the 19-year-old American on Monday evening in the online tournament “Julius Baer Generation Cup” after just one move: “Unfortunately, I can’t do it comment, but people can draw their own conclusions, and they did.”
Magnus Carlsen: “I’m very impressed with Niemann’s game”
The Norwegian also said: “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. When asked if he would elaborate further at a later date, he said: “I hope to say a little more after the tournament.”
Dlugy is a 56-year-old US grandmaster who was accused of cheating online chess years ago. To what extent Dlugy is connected to Niemann and whether he is really his mentor is not publicly known.
The background to Carlsen’s behavior, which is so unique, is a dispute with Niemann, who is also facing allegations of fraud. However, there is no evidence of Niemann’s fraud.
At the beginning of September, the first incident between the counterparties occurred. At the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, superstar Carlsen surprisingly lost to Niemann and withdrew from a tournament for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old Norwegian did not give any reasons, he just tweeted an old interview with football coach José Mourinho, in which the Portuguese said: “I prefer not to say anything. If I say something, I’ll get into 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.