The 72-page report by Chess.com is the latest twist in a saga that began more than a month ago when the world champion Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the $500,000 (£441,000) Sinquefield Cup after losing to Niemann, dropping coy hints that his opponent may have cheated.
Since then a cloud of suspicion has hung over the sport, along with increasingly wild theories about cheating using vibrating anal beads. The hashtag #chessdrama now regularly trends on social media.
Niemann has vigorously denied cheating in over-the-board matches, including against Carlsen. However, last month he admitted that he had cheated twice in online events, as a 12- and 16-year-old. Yet Chess.com says it has identified 11 separate occasions, encompassing over 100 matches, where he has cheated.
It states in its report: "Notably, Ken Regan, an independent expert in the field of cheat detection in chess, has expressed his belief that Hans cheated during the 2015 and 2017 Titled Tuesdays, as well as numerous matches in 2020."
This story is from the October 06, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the October 06, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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