Magnus has withdrawn from Sinquefeld Cup

[Brad Thomson]

We're not sure why you are taking such a strong line over this?

Because Neimann is being tossed under the bus as an explanation for Magnus' conduct. This is not at all fair unless there IS something to the allegations that he cheated. If there IS then Neimann should be accused, if there is not then Neimann has a right to be exonerated. What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? The chess world, thanks to the suck who is a former world champion, having decided not to defend, is declaring Niemann "guilty until Magnus (the suck) declares him innocent." This is outrageous, but of course par for the course in the world of chess.

[Pargat Perrer]

Seems to me that paranoia has become chess culture.

I don't too often agree with your posts, but in this case, congratulations, that is a superb statement.

I can't imagine what it is like to play a sport or game in which if you suddenly have a great event way beyond anyone's expectations, you are suspected (very strongly) of cheating.

In this case, Niemann is only 19 and still a junior. Usually being a junior gives one some room to improve dramatically without the cheating stigma. But Niemann is stuck with it anyway, with Carlsen doing his best (it seems) to ensure that very result.

Paranoia has become chess culture precisely because cheating IS possible and has been attempted. Cheating may be more possible in chess than in any other pro sport or game. This is because chess is a 100% information game which computers play much better than the very best humans.

To solve this problem, chess needs more variance. That could be the topic of a whole new thread, I'll just leave it at that for now.

[Pargat Perrer]

We're not sure why you are taking such a strong line over this? Isn't it probable that he has just tired of the "whole mess" and just decided he didn't need the hassle? After all, he doesn't need the money.

How would you know whether Carlsen doesn't need the money? You state it as if you know it for a fact.

Is Carlsen a billionaire? No, probably just a multi-millionaire. In a world that is getting scarier by the day, in which economic recession and possibly depression is on the table, what mere multi-millionaire is going to decide s/he doesn't need the money? Have you ever heard the wise saying, "Make hay while the sun shines"?

And who are you to know Carlsen has this attitude that he doesn't need the money? A personal friend of Carlsen perhaps? Not likely.

[Neil Frarey]

The rules do not state that if you are going to go through the proper procedures for filing a cheating complaint you must at the same time withdraw from the tournament. Even if Magnus does think Niemann cheated and even if he has filed the appropriate paperwork and cannot talk about it, this still does not explain why he withdrew. He could still have finished the event. He should still have finished the event. The dude sucked out and he is gutless, unless he has a legitimate reason, and the suggestion that Niemann may have cheated, for there is no way Magnus could be certain about it unless he caught him red-handed, is no legitimate reason. Further, if Magnus HAS filed the paperwork then the organizers could save themselves, Niemann and the chess world a lot of trouble by informing us of the fact without going into any details. This whole mess stinks very badly.

Seems to me that paranoia has become chess culture.

[Fred Harvey]

The rules do not state that if you are going to go through the proper procedures for filing a cheating complaint you must at the same time withdraw from the tournament. Even if Magnus does think Niemann cheated and even if he has filed the appropriate paperwork and cannot talk about it, this still does not explain why he withdrew. He could still have finished the event. He should still have finished the event. The dude sucked out and he is gutless, unless he has a legitimate reason, and the suggestion that Niemann may have cheated, for there is no way Magnus could be certain about it unless he caught him red-handed, is no legitimate reason. Further, if Magnus HAS filed the paperwork then the organizers could save themselves, Niemann and the chess world a lot of trouble by informing us of the fact without going into any details. This whole mess stinks very badly.

We're not sure why you are taking such a strong line over this? Isn't it probable that he has just tired of the "whole mess" and just decided he didn't need the hassle? After all, he doesn't need the money.

[Brad Thomson]

The rules do not state that if you are going to go through the proper procedures for filing a cheating complaint you must at the same time withdraw from the tournament. Even if Magnus does think Niemann cheated and even if he has filed the appropriate paperwork and cannot talk about it, this still does not explain why he withdrew. He could still have finished the event. He should still have finished the event. The dude sucked out and he is gutless, unless he has a legitimate reason, and the suggestion that Niemann may have cheated, for there is no way Magnus could be certain about it unless he caught him red-handed, is no legitimate reason. Further, if Magnus HAS filed the paperwork then the organizers could save themselves, Niemann and the chess world a lot of trouble by informing us of the fact without going into any details. This whole mess stinks very badly.

[Mario Moran-Venegas]

ANTI-CHEATING REGULATIONS Approved at the Batumi 2018 Fide Congress
Section 3 part B
B. COMPLAINTS 1. Any person having a FIDE Identity Number can file a complaint. 2. All Complaints must be submitted in writing and addressed to the ACC through Fide Office. Complaints must be filed via the relevant Complaint form (Annexes A-B). The complainant shall provide all the information required in the Complaint Form and must detail the reasons why the Complaint is being made, listing all basis available at the time of filing. 3. Oral or informal Complaints are not accepted. 4. In-Tournament Complaints must be delivered to the chief arbiter. Upon receipt of an ITC, the chief arbiter shall; a) inform the complainant about the penalty for filing a manifestly unfounded ITC; b) take steps to investigate the case in the usual manner, with reference to Article 12.9 for possible penalties; c) forward the complaint and his report including all findings to the ACC through Fide Office. If the chief arbiter comes to the conclusion that the ITC is unfounded he may dismiss the complaint during the tournament, subject to his duties under III.B.4.c above. The player retains the right to file a Post-Tournament Complaint on the same incident. 5. When a Post-Tournament Complaint is filed, the complaint must contain explanation of why an ITC was not filed earlier. 6. All Complaints shall list all basis available at the time of filing. 7. All Complaints based solely on the assumption that a person is playing stronger than expected due to his/her rating will be considered manifestly unfounded. 8. ACC may initiate an investigation based on any piece of information that may come into its knowledge regarding a possible cheating incident, including false accusation. 9. When an investigation is triggered by a request by ETH or any other body of Fide authorized by Statute, ACC shall act as an Investigatory Chamber for the triggering body. 10. All information about complaints and investigations shall remain confidential until an investigation is completed by the ACC. In case of breach of confidentiality requirements by complainants or the Chief Arbiter or any other person with knowledge of the complaint or the investigation before the investigation is completed, the ACC can refer all offenders to the ETH.

[Mario Moran-Venegas]

If I was in Magnus' shoes I would act as he is doing.
If there was an accusation of cheating brought to the Arbiter personnel it must remain secret till more checking is done.
If I was Hans Niemann , my comments on the analysis would be exactly as inaccurate and vague as not to give out any of my preparation.
The statement should come from the organizers of the tournament with a date for a future statement on the matter.

[Brad Thomson]

Magnus' silence is deafening. By not speaking up he is allowing the cheating rumours to spread. The dude is gutless. This is absolutely unfair to Niemann and to chess in general. Until and unless Magnus clarifies his reasons for withdrawing he is deliberately allowing this situation to fester. If he thinks Niemann cheated he should say so and if he does not he should say so. Why allow the fiasco of innuendo to continue? Again, the dude is gutless.

[Patrick Kirby]

Aagards's comments seem pretty much on point here. The people talking about Nieman's low level of analysis..look he made an intuitive sacrifice and missed a defensive idea of Qe7-c5 with Bd8 in one of the variations. If the position had appeared on the board he probably would have seen it and played something other than f4. Anyway, it worked in the game and he got a great position. Most top players don't play this way anymore, but obviously he didn't get the memo. Also, and more to the point, it's not how computers play..you really think he has an accomplice who is smart enough to propose anti-computer moves to throw people off, and design a cheating system that thwarts all security measures, including a 15 minute broadcast delay?

In the game against Magnus he just got lucky in his preparation. He was planning the Nimzo, he knows Magnus isn't going to play one of the theoretical lines with qc2 or f3, so there are only so many sidelines to prepare for, g3/Nf3 stuff or some quiet lines starting with e3. As many people have said there's nothing suspicious about this game. Black played well, but nothing outside the level that a 2650 couldn't manage on his best day.

[Joshua Guo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN3zNrvO8b4&t=840s

Based on his interview after R4 game with Firouzja, he seems pretty guilty.
Just nervous energy and his analysis didn't make much sense.
I'm 2250 but I think anyone over 2000 can sense that.

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

But as MVL wisely said, innocent until proven guilty.

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

If Magnus thinks Hans Nieman is cheating, I think we should give him at least the benefit of the doubt. Nieman sounds weird and inconsistent in his game analysis with Alejandro Ramirez. Also he is not a very likeable person from what I've seen of him, so far. Time will tell in his case.

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

PlayMagnus has just been sold to chess.com for 82 millions. There are no worries there, I think.

[Don Parakin]

Magnus is a founder and part owner of the Play Magnus Group (PMG), a listed company that owns several chess properties including chess24, chessable, New In Chess, Everyman Chess, and more. In 2020 and 2021, PMG lost about $35 million. For 2022, management promised investors to at least break even by the end of the year. I'm sure a lot of hard work and hard decisions went into the attempt including layoffs during the summer to cut costs. I'm guessing they were not wildly successful at achieving this. PMG's stock price fell over 50% in 2022. On Aug 24 (less than 2 weeks ago) they accepted chess.com's offer to buy PMG.

So, one possibility is that Magnus has been a little distracted lately by non-OTB things that his ability & desire to play top-level chess was affected.