Magnus Carlsen: FIDE rebukes the former world champion for abandoning the match after a move, but shares his ‘deep concern’ about cheating in chess




CNN

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) chastised former world champion Magnus Carlsen for knocking out after just one move in an online chess match against his grandmaster Hans Niemann, but added that he expressed the “deep concern of the world No. 1 at the damage inflicts cheating on chess, share .”

“We firmly believe that there are better ways to deal with this situation,” FIDE said in a statement released on Friday.

“The world champion has a moral responsibility with his status as he is seen as a global ambassador for football. His actions affect the reputation of his colleagues, sporting results and can ultimately damage our game.

The two players were competing in the Julius Baer Generation Cup on Monday when Carlsen turned off his screen and left the game without explanation.

Earlier this month, the Norwegian retired from the Sinquefield Cup in Saint Louis after his surprise loss to American star Niemann – the first time in his career that he has retired from a tournament, according to chess24.

Another grandmaster, Hikaru Nakamura, said Carlsen was “suspicious” of Niemann’s behavior, and days after the Sinquefield Cup match, Niemann publicly responded to allegations that he had cheated earlier in his chess career.

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

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

None of these tournaments were under FIDE jurisdiction, but the organization said: “It is our duty to protect the integrity of the game and its image and as the incident continues to escalate we feel it is necessary to take a step to make it forward.”

FIDE announced that it “stands ready to commission its Fair Play Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident once adequate initial evidence has been produced and all parties involved disclose the information at their disposal”.

“We fully recognize that in some cases, uncertainty can affect player performance,” the statement continued. “It can also damage a player’s reputation – which is why we insist that anti-cheating protocols are followed.”

CNN has contacted FIDE for further clarification on the statement.

Carlsen has made no explicit allegations of fraud against Niemann, who denies any wrongdoing.

“Unfortunately, I can’t specifically speak to that, but people can draw their own conclusions, and they certainly have,” he said in an interview published on his verified YouTube channel on Wednesday.

“I have to say I’m very impressed with Niemann’s game and I think his mentor Maxim Dlugy must be doing a great job.”

“I’m not going to comment on that,” Carlsen added when asked directly if he was withdrawing from the Julius Baer Generations Cup over cheating allegations. “I hope to be able to say a little bit more after the tournament.”

CNN reached out to Carlsen and Niemann for comment this week, but has yet to receive a response.

FIDE said it shares Carlsen’s “deep concern about the damage cheating is doing to chess” and called for further collaboration between major online platforms, private events and top players.

“We hope that this whole situation could have a long-term positive effect if properly addressed,” added the FIDE statement, proposing a dedicated panel composed of Grandmasters, anti-cheating experts, FIDE officers and representatives of leading chess platforms to remedy any future risk of fraud.