Carlsen "Speaks"

...but doesn't say too much.

The other shoe dropped today, but the sound wasn’t the thud of a boot, more the soft sound of a fuzzy slipper. Here’s what Carlsen wrote:

Dear Chess World,

At the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, I made the unprecedented professional decision to withdraw from the tournament after my round three game against Hans Niemann. A week later during the Champions Chess Tour, I resigned against Hans Niemann after playing only one move.

I know that my actions have frustrated many in the chess community. I’m frustrated. I want to play chess. I want to continue to play chess at the highest level in the best events.

I believe that cheating in chess is a big deal and an existential threat to the game. I also believe that chess organizers and all those who care about the sanctity of the game we love should seriously consider increasing security measures and methods of cheat detection for over the board chess. When Niemann was invited last minute to the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, I strongly considered withdrawing prior to the event. I ultimately chose to play.

I believe that Niemann has cheated more - and more recently - than he has publicly admitted. His over the board progress has been unusual, and throughout our game in the Sinquefield Cup I had the impression that he wasn’t tense or even fully concentrating on the game in critical positions, while outplaying me as black in a way I think only a handful of players can do. This game contributed to changing my perspective.

We must do something about cheating, and for my part going forward, I don’t want to play against people that have cheated repeatedly in the past, becuase I don’t know what they are capable of doing in the future.

There is more that I would like to say. Unfortunately, at this time I am limited in what I can say without explicit permission from Niemann to speak openly. So far I have only been able to speak with my actions, and those actions have stated clearly that I am not willing to play chess with Niemann. I hope that the truth on this matter comes out, whatever it may be.

Sincerely,

Magnus Carlsen - World Chess Champion

It’s not that this isn’t a big deal - it is - but it doesn’t provide any concrete evidence and repeats all the claims and hints that have been circulating for a while. Will Chess.com go public about their accusation that Niemann, as Carlsen puts it above, “has cheated - and more recently - than he has publicly admitted”? Is Carlsen referring to something else that Niemann has purportedly done? He makes reference to Niemann’s substantial rating gains, but the bit about requiring “explicit permission from Niemann” would seem to refer to the Chess.com issues.

We may never know. Meanwhile, he’s giving sponsors an implicit either/or: if you want me, don’t invite Niemann. We know who will win that battle, and if Niemann is innocent, this implicit ultimatum is a shame.

There are two good things that might come of this, though it would obviously have been better if it never happened. First, stricter anti-cheating protocols would be a good thing, provided they’re not unduly invasive. (E.g. think of the means Niemann allegedly used. I don’t know about you, but I would never play in a tournament if, er, direct investigation was required.) Second, I hope this dissuades youngsters from engaging in online cheating. It’s clear that one’s reputation can be destroyed by doing so, even if one is Puritanically honest about over the board play.