Magnus Carlsen had just made the first move against Hans Niemann. In an online chess game, counting towards the Julius Baer Generation Cup, the former turned off the screen and left the game without any explanation. “We will try to give updates on this. He gives up. He got up and left, turned off the camera and that’s all we know at the moment, ”said the commentator following the live broadcast. But why did Magnus Carlsen, the five-time world chess champion, suddenly walk out of a meeting?
To answer this question it is first necessary to understand who Magnus Carlsen is. At 31, the native Norwegian from Tønsberg is the leader of classification natural chess player since July 2011, holds the record for classification highest a player has ever had in the FIDE rating, the International Federation of Échecs (2882 points in 2014) and also has the longest winning streak in elite chess history. Called the “Mozart of chess”, he is an admirer of Napoleon Bonaparte, loves football and is a fan of Real Madrid and boasts a complex personality that stands out neither in modesty nor in humility.
Magnus Carlsen, the “Chess Mozart” who admires Napoleon and is a Real Madrid fan
In early September, Magnus Carlsen met Hans Niemann for the first time, a 19-year-old American, Great master (the highest title that a chess player can achieve during his career) since 2021 and a particularly relevant personality in the universe of the Twitch social network. At the Sinquefield Cup in Saint Louis, the unthinkable happened: Niemann beat Carlsen, prompting the Norwegian to withdraw from a tournament for the first time in his career.
At the time, Magnus Carlsen confirmed the withdrawal via Twitter. “I withdrew from the tournament. I have always liked playing in San Luis and I hope to return in the future”, he wrote, adding to the publication a video of José Mourinho when he was training Chelsea, in a lightning interviewsaying “If I talk, I’m in big trouble”, i.e. if i talk i get in trouble. Rumors soon surfaced about the Norwegian suspect that Hans Niemann was cheating. And the American was quick to react to these same rumors by assuming he cheated between the ages of 12 and 16 but “learned from the mistake.”
I have withdrawn from the tournament. I have always liked to play @STLChessCluband I hope to return in the future https://t.co/YFSpl8er3u
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) September 5, 2022
“I speak my truth because I don’t want to open the door to misunderstandings. I am proud of the fact that I learned from that mistake and currently give everything I have to chess. I sacrificed everything for chess. The entire social media community, as well as the entire chess universe, is attacking and belittling me. Seeing my hero trying to attack me, trying to ruin my reputation, trying to ruin my career and doing it in such a frivolous way is a big, big disappointment.” Niemann said in an interview with St. Louis Chess Club.
The truth is that, after the rumors, the American was finally removed from the popular website Chess.com, which defended the decision in a statement. “We have already shared detailed evidence of our decision with him, including information that contradicts your statements about the extent and severity of the cheating. We invite Hans to explain and provide a response in the hope of finding a solution that will allow him to participate in Chess.com again,” the note reads.
Pragg: the 16-year-old Indian chess master who won world number one
The scandal spread to such an extent that even less orthodox theories emerged. In social networks, it began to circulate the possibility of Hans Niemann cheating by using an anal sex toy with connection wireless that receives information from a third person who is watching the game and sends instructions transmitted through certain vibrations.
And here we come to this Monday and the reunion between Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann at the Julius Baer Generation Cup. When the entire chess world stopped to watch the new matchup between the two players, albeit online and not in person, the Norwegian made a move and retired from the match. However, contrary to what happened at the beginning of the month, he did not leave the tournament and is still in competition, having defeated the next two opponents. Whether or not Niemann cheats is anyone’s guess. That Carlsen believes that Niemann is cheating, everyone has noticed.
Source: Observadora
