Magnus Carlsen quits match without explanation amid apparent feud with fellow grandmaster Hans Niemann | CNN

CNN
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Immediately after making his first move, the world champion Magnus Carlsen On Monday, he resigned from an online chess match against fellow grandmaster Hans Niemann.

The pair were playing in the Julius Beer Generation Cup when Karlsson switched off his screen and left the match without explanation – the latest twist in an apparent feud between the two players.

“We’ll try and get an update on that,” comments Tanya Sachdev said In the live broadcast of the match on Chess24. “Magnus Carlsen has just resigned – got up left, turned off his camera and that’s all we know for now.”

CNN reached out to Carlson’s representatives for comment but did not receive a response.

Earlier this month, the Norwegian withdrew from the Sinkefeld Cup in St. Louis following his surprise loss to American star Niemann – the first time he has withdrawn from a tournament in his career, according to Chess24.

Carlson confirmed his withdrawal. Twitter, posting: “I have withdrawn from the tournament. I have always enjoyed playing at @STLChessClub , and hope to return in the future. Karlsson’s tweet included a well-known video of football manager Jose Mourinho saying: “If I speak, I’m in big trouble.”

Another Grandmaster, Hikaru Nakamura, said Carlson is “suspicious” of Niemann’s behavior, and a few days after the Sinkefeld Cup match, Niemann publicly responded to allegations that he had cheated earlier in his chess career.

The 19-year-old admitted to cheating at ages 12 and 16, but said in an interview with the St. Louis Chess Club that he never cheated in over-the-board games.

“I’m telling my truth because I don’t want any misrepresentation,” Neiman said. “I am proud of myself that I have learned from this mistake, and now I have given everything to chess. I have sacrificed everything for chess.”

The tension between Niemann and Carlson has shaken the chess community. Neiman said he had been removed from the popular website Chess.com after Carlson’s tweet and that “the entire social media and chess world is completely attacking me and undermining me.”

“To try to target my absolute hero (Carlson), try to tarnish my reputation, ruin my chess career and do it in such a frivolous way is really disappointing,” he added.

Neither Neiman nor Chess.com responded to CNN’s request for comment.

In a ___ Statement On September 8, Chess.com’s Chief Chess Officer Danny Reinsch said that the site had “shared detailed evidence. [Niemann] of our judgment, including information that contradicts his statements about the amount and seriousness of his fraud.”

Reinsch continued: “We have invited Hans to provide clarification and answers in hopes of finding a resolution where Hans can participate on Chess.com again.”

Karlsson and Niemann played two more games against other opponents after the former’s sudden resignation on Monday. Carlsen is two points behind leader Arjun Erigisi in the tournament standings after eight rounds, while Neiman is four points back.

“It looks like he (Carlson) is clearly saying something, but until you catch someone, you can’t do anything,” Anish Gary, who is also competing in the Julius Beer Generation Cup, said. told. Chess 24.

“It seems very strange now. Obviously, it all makes sense if, supposedly, Hans is cheating and he doesn’t want to play it, but if he’s not (cheating), it’s Very wrong indeed.

“So I don’t know, we’ll have to see. Again, everyone is expecting some kind of big rabbit out of the hat with Magnus, but it seems like he doesn’t want to play the swan.

Leon Aronin, who is also competing in the tournament, said Niemann “hasn’t been the cleanest person when it comes to online chess,” but added that “it’s a problem that needs to be solved.” Required.”