I don't believe the settlement is a draw at all but rather an admission on the side of Carlsen that, not only can cheating on Niemann's part not be proven, but in fact it almost certainly did not occur. The injustice of the situation is that it seems very likely that Niemann's chess career has been permanently derailed by Carlsen's baseless insinuations in a fit of pique. Thus a mere monetary settlement is insufficient, and I am glad Carlsen came clean and admitted there is no evidence Niemann cheated in their game, which is what the settlement tacitly signifies.
Most lawsuits are settled out of court, so it's hard to draw any conclusions. Carlsen's statement is nonconcessive, and certainly doesn't indicate any change in opinion. It just acknowledges the existence of a report, and uses the phrase "no determinative evidence". Niemann has to some modest extent been rehabilitated (it's hard to see the settlement as changing minds one way or the other) and has found his way back to playing on chess.com, while his legal opponents have got the hazard of a lawsuit off their backs. In the meantime, with Niemann only nominally still a junior and having a live rating of 2667, then even ignoring Carlsen's soft power, the chances that they will be paired in some event any time soon seem rather low, and in over the board play, close to nonexistent.
I don't believe the settlement is a draw at all but rather an admission on the side of Carlsen that, not only can cheating on Niemann's part not be proven, but in fact it almost certainly did not occur. The injustice of the situation is that it seems very likely that Niemann's chess career has been permanently derailed by Carlsen's baseless insinuations in a fit of pique. Thus a mere monetary settlement is insufficient, and I am glad Carlsen came clean and admitted there is no evidence Niemann cheated in their game, which is what the settlement tacitly signifies.
Most lawsuits are settled out of court, so it's hard to draw any conclusions. Carlsen's statement is nonconcessive, and certainly doesn't indicate any change in opinion. It just acknowledges the existence of a report, and uses the phrase "no determinative evidence". Niemann has to some modest extent been rehabilitated (it's hard to see the settlement as changing minds one way or the other) and has found his way back to playing on chess.com, while his legal opponents have got the hazard of a lawsuit off their backs. In the meantime, with Niemann only nominally still a junior and having a live rating of 2667, then even ignoring Carlsen's soft power, the chances that they will be paired in some event any time soon seem rather low, and in over the board play, close to nonexistent.