‘I categorically have not used anal beads to win at chess’: Hans Niemann DENIES cheating against Magnus Carlsen to beat him last year – despite allegations he was coached using sex toy
- Made to Piers Morgan Sunday, the assertion comes more than a year removed from the September 2022 faceoff between Hans Niemann, 20, and current no. 1
- The match shook up the chess world – after Nieman, a rising talent from San Francisco, unceremoniously unseat the Norwegian for all the world to see
- Officially cleared of the allegations last month, Niemann has now returned to chess – and had some strong words for Morgan Sunday when asked about them
The chess prodigy accused of hidden, vibrating anal beads to upset Magnus Carlsen last year has dismissed the allegations in a new interview.
Made to Piers Morgan, the assertion comes more than a year removed from the September 2022 faceoff between Hans Niemann, a 20-year-old American, and the current world number one.
The match shook up the chess world – after Nieman, a rising talent from San Francisco, unceremoniously unseat the Norwegian for all the world to see.
In the game’s aftermath, though, Niemann was met with scrutiny in lieu of praise. Labeled a cheat, he battled back claims he was secretly being advised by a coach behind the scenes – in a fashion that, at the time, grabbed headlines.
Officially cleared of the allegations last month, Niemann has now returned to chess – and had some strong words for Morgan Sunday when asked about them.
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Appearing alongside his lawyer, Hans Niemann (left) slammed claims he used vibrating anal beads to cheat – and appeared annoyed when he was again asked them
The match shook up the chess world – after Niemann, a rising talent from San Francisco, unceremoniously upset the Norwegian at last year’s prestigious Sinquefield Cup in St Louis
‘Categorically, no,’ said Niemann, appearing irritated by the question. ‘Of course not.’
Morgan, though, persisted – offering the young prodigy a taste of his trademark interview style by bringing up parts of his subjects past that they might view as painful: perhaps a poor choice of words in this case.
The English commentator asked: ‘The allegation was that your coach instructed you to insert anal beads inside yourself, which he would then send remote signals to.
‘When that story broke, what was your reaction?’
Niemann, seated alongside his lawyer, responded: ‘Well, obviously, it was very disheartening, to be accused of cheating after that victory.
‘But, you know, these things… it happened, and I learned a lot from that time.’
Stumbling as he seemingly realized in real time the distinct strangeness of the claims that have marred him for more than a year, Niemann went on to tout how he is now a better man.
‘It has really taught me a lot of important lessons about life and chess, and I think it’s only strengthened my resolve,’ he told Morgan, some 11 months after chess officials found no evidence to support the sensational claims.
The talk, however, turned tense when Morgan asked outright if Niemann used the method against Carlsen at last year’s prestigious Sinquefield Cup in St Louis – spurring a pointed, and somewhat humorous response.
‘Categorically, no,’ Niemann told Piers Morgan Sunday, appearing irritated by the question. At a point, the prodigy even took a jab at the interviewer – questioning his interest in the strange cheating method
Apparently fed up, Niemann coolly told Morgan when asked if he ever used anal beads inserted inside himself to cheat: ‘Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know – maybe you’re personally interested, but I can tell you, no’
Carlsen, 31, walked out of the $500,000 Sinquefield Cup after he was beaten by Nieman in the third round, prompting online speculation that he suspected foul play
He later issued a statement implying that the then teenager had cheated, sharing a meme of postgame interview of Jose Mourinho, where the coach said: ‘If I speak, I am in big trouble’
‘Just to be clear – you didn’t cheat?’ Morgan asked Niemann, who was seated alongside a lawyer who remained silent.
‘Of course not’.
Morgan continued, ‘To be clear, on the specific allegation – have you ever used anal beads while playing chess?’ before quipping: ‘Not a question I’d ever thought I’d ask a guest to be honest, but-‘
Apparently fed up, Niemann coolly replied: ‘Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know – maybe you’re personally interested, but I can tell you, no.’
The interview, aired on Saturday’s Piers Morgan Uncensored, comes just weeks after Carlsen, 32, and Niemann, settled a $100million lawsuit filed by the American regarding the scandal – and the scrutiny he has faced since.
It also comes shortly after an absolved Niemann – whose win has since been officially attributed to his competitor’s unusually substandard endgame play – returned to chess last month, tweeting out at the time ‘Hullo chess world, did you miss me?’
The allegations began after Niemann defeated Carlsen in a shock result at last year’s event at the world’s chess capital, resulting in polarized opinion amongst chess fans.
The 19-year-old chess prodigy previously declared he would play naked to prove doubters wrong after rumors suggested he could have used vibrating anal beads
The 20-year-old prodigy has competed in tournaments all over the world, taking part in his first rated event at age eight. He is pictured at a match in 2013 and right in 2014 at age 10, when he became the youngest winner of the Mechanics Institute Chess Club in its 159-year history
As an eighth grade student in 2017, Niemann won first place in a local chess championship. He is pictured playing with friend Gavin Spandow, who described Hans as ‘fiercely competitive and far from humble’
After being beaten, Carlsen – perhaps the world’s most well known chess player – walked out of the $500,000 Sinquefield Cup after he was beaten by the American in the third round, prompting speculation that he suspected foul play.
Carlsen even issued a statement implying that the then teenager had cheated, sharing a meme of postgame interview of Jose Mourinho, where the soccer coach said: ‘If I speak, I am in big trouble’.
The self-taught grandmaster from San Francisco was rocketing up the world rankings when he was drawn to play against Carlsen, who had been on a 53-game unbeaten streak.
However, the celebrity savant’s strategy dismantled in his endgame, with an unusually substandard style that Niemann – who at the time had been competing in tournaments all over the world since age 8 – exploited.
‘It must be embarrassing for the world champion to lose to me,’ he told reporters.
‘I feel bad for him!’
He credited a ‘ridiculous miracle’, for his victory, claiming he had watched a video of Carlsen using a similar game plan in a game four years earlier that morning.
As the rumors mounted Niemann underwent a humiliating 90-second body-scan in front of laughing spectators before entering a tournament a few weeks later.
Chess.com banned Niemann and later published a report saying he had likely cheated more than 100 times in online games.
The prodigy admitted to cheating online between the ages of 12 and 16, but he denied any wrongdoing while contesting over-the-board games.
A US judge dismissed part of Niemann’s lawsuit in June this year, and cited lack of jurisdiction on other parts.
However, informal discussions between the parties continued for months, resulting in an unspecified settlement in August – monhts after the sprawling report from the chess site found no evidence Niemann ever cheated in an in-person game.
On August 28, Chess.com issued a statement reinstating Niemann to Chess.com, with no restrictions on his participation in the sites ranked online events.
‘We are pleased to report that we have reached an agreement with Hans Niemann to put our differences behind us and move forward together without further litigation.
‘At this time, Hans has been fully reinstated to Chess.com, and we look forward to his participation in our events.
‘We would also like to reaffirm that we stand by the findings in our October 2022 public report regarding Hans, including that we found no determinative evidence that he has cheated in any in-person games.
‘We all love chess and appreciate all of the passionate fans and community members who allow us to do what we do.’
At the time, Carlsen also issued a statement, conceding that he would be ‘willing to play Niemann in future events, should we be paired together.’
Niemann, meanwhile, said he will repeat his victory when the rematch takes place.
‘I look forward to competing against Magnus at chess rather than in court,’ he said in a video posted to social media after being reinstated.
‘I would like to reaffirm my opinion that the chess.com report was defamatory and I challenge their allegations.
‘There will be a day when I will be the best chess player in the world.’
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