World number one Magnus Carlsen has openly accused American chess rising star Hans Niemann of cheating on a recent occasion. The Norwegian had resigned against Niemann after playing just one move on the Champions Chess Tour and previously also withdrawn from the Sinquefield Cup after facing the American.


In his statement, Carlsen expressed that he is frustrated with all his actions and wants to get back to playing Chess on the highest level. But World number one feels that an act like cheating is extremely detrimental to the spirit and sanctity of Chess. Hence measures toward such actions should be strengthened.  


In a statement posted on Twitter, Carlsen said, “At the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, I made the unprecedented professional decision to withdraw from the tournament after my round three game against Hans Niemann. A week later during the Champions Chess Tour, I resigned against Hans Niemann after playing only one move. I know that my actions have frustrated many in the chess community. I’m frustrated. I want to play chess. I want to continue to play chess at the highest level in the best events.”


“I believe that Niemann has cheated more — and more recently — than he has publicly admitted. His over-the-board progress has been unusual, and throughout our game in the Sinquefield Cup, I had the impression that he wasn’t tense or even fully concentrating on the game in critical positions while outplaying me as black in a way I think only a handful of players can do. This game contributed to changing my perspective,” he further added. 


Hans Niemann has come forward to accept that he had cheated online twice, once when he was 12 and 16. But has since expressed that he has never played fraudulently in a face-to-face match and is even willing to play without any clothes to prove his stance. In early September, the huge chess platform chess.com banned the American for cheating on the site.


In a statement posted on September 9, IM Danny Rensch wrote on behalf of Chess.com: "We have shared detailed evidence with him concerning our decision, including information that contradicts his statements regarding the amount and seriousness of his cheating on Chess.com."