Sparks are flying in the chess world

The focus is on world champion Magnus Carlsen and the 19-year-old aspiring American Hans Niemann. Carlsen gave up after just one move in the duel with Niemann in the online tournament “Julius Bär Generation Cup”. But it wasn't just since Monday that the two of them had not been on good terms with each other; there had been conflicts before.

At the beginning of September, Carlsen surprisingly lost to Niemann at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis and withdrew from a tournament for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old Norwegian did not give reasons, only 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 in a lot of trouble, and I don’t want to get in a lot of trouble.” Niemann cheated twice as a teenager The chess scene interpreted Carlsen's exit as an accusation 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 twelve and 16, but never in person at the chessboard. However, many now doubt this and there is also strong speculation about how Niemann could have cheated. In any case, there is no evidence of fraud.

And Carlsen himself was careful not to say anything like that. “Unfortunately I can’t comment on that, but people can draw their own conclusions from it and that’s what they did,” Carlsen said in an interview with the portal chess24 when asked why he ended the game against Niemann so early. He also added: "I have to say that I am very impressed with Niemann's game and I think that his mentor Maxim Dlugy must have done a great job." Will Carlsen unpack after the tournament? Carlsen did not want to comment when asked why he mentioned Dlugy in this context. A little more light could come into the matter next week. “I hope to say something more after the tournament.” The final of the chess tournament takes place on Sunday.

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Sparks are flying in the chess world

Games that ended early and accusations of cheating: there is currently anything but harmony in the chess elite.

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