Carlsen vs Niemann: Cheating on chessboard

Ongoing scandal can dent the game's popularity

It is unusual for a chess grandmaster (GM) to be offered $1 million to play in the nude. But this is one of the more unusual outcomes of an ongoing scandal roiling one of the world’s most popular indoor activities. A few days ago, Hans Moke Niemann, a teenaged American GM, beat reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen in a high-voltage encounter at the Sinquefield Cup in Saint Louis. Carlsen played an opening system he has adopted only once before in 2018. So it ought to have been a surprise. But Niemann (who is ranked 49th in the world) was well-prepared and found great responses. In a post-game interview, Niemann said it was “a miracle” he had studied that specific line that morning.

TO READ THE FULL STORY, SUBSCRIBE NOW NOW AT JUST RS 249 A MONTH.

MONTHLY

₹ 249

Select

ANNUAL

₹ 1799

Select

Best Offer

SMART ANNUAL

₹ 1499

₹ 1799

Opt for auto renewal and save Rs 300

Select

What you get on Business Standard Premium?

Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app.
Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006.
Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more.
Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them.
26 years of website archives.
Preferential invites to Business Standard events.