Hans Niemann denies cheating over the board, calls Chess.com's report defamatory, and says the Carlsen case is resolved.
Two admitted online cheats, at 12 and 16Niemann confirms he cheated in online chess.com games as a child, once with moves fed from an iPad, but insists those games were meaningless.
Chess.com's 100-game report called defamatoryHe says the 51-page report contains no evidence, that Danny Wrench knew he had not cheated while streaming, and that the ban was timed to the Play Magnus merger.
The $100 million lawsuit is over, terms undisclosedNiemann is no longer suing Carlsen; his side says the case has been resolved and refuses to discuss whether money changed hands.
Executive SummaryAI
Piers opens the interview with Hans Nieman and his lawyer Terence Ovi, who Niemann says helped him resolve the recent case and settlement.
The questions follow Niemann's win over world champion Magnus Carlsen in Missouri in September 2022, which ended a 53-game unbeaten streak and produced the allegation that his coach had him insert anal beads to receive remote signals.
Niemann confirms he admitted cheating twice in online games on chess.com, at 12 and 16, while denying he ever did so in an in-person game, after Chess.com banned him and published a report saying he had likely cheated more than 100 times online.
He calls that 51-page report defamatory, says Danny Wrench told him they knew he had never cheated while streaming, and argues the ban was timed to the Play Magnus Group merger to protect Carlsen, whom he calls a bully.
Asked whether he is still suing Carlsen for $100 million, Niemann says no, the case has been resolved, and the side refuses to say whether any money was paid; he says he has started a $10,000 scholarship and will let his chess speak for itself.
Key Quote
“And that report should not be taken seriously whatsoever.”
— Hans Niemann
Key Quote
“But it was a childish mistake and something I've admitted to.”
— Hans Niemann
Key Quote
“These online games, these are absolutely, absolutely meaningless.”