Is anyone following the chess drama?

[KyriakosCH]

I am, somewhat. Not out of interest for chess, though, just boredom.
Hans Niemann is a 19 year old grandmaster who was accused by the world champion of cheating in a game he recently won against him. But since there was no proof - this was a game over the board, and checks are taking place before all such games - it was pretty reckless to make the accusation, and now Niemann is suing a few people for defamation and other counts.

A major problem with professional chess is that chess engines have been far superior to humans for over two decades now, so it's a bit of a vanity profession. Of course this also means that if someone can use chess engines, they will win - but over the board the security measures are supposed to pick up any device or other method of being helped by an engine. Online, on the other hand, literally anyone can use an engine.

Plot twist: Niemann has managed to cheat over the board, by creating tech that is far superior to anything known to others and is only pretending to pursue a career in chess so as to continuously check his progress as inventor 

[heltenjon]

I'm following it. Niemann's a known cheat. The main problem seems to be that a jury or judge may not understand the evidence. Analyzing his matches has shown an unbelievable amount of perfect matches or moves compared to Stockfish, much higher than Carlsen. That would be believable if he was the best player in the world, but he's not. He's probably a good player in his own right, but his matches aren't at a consistent level of skill. Carlsen famously played him at the beach and wiped the floor with him. Of course Carlsen would  see that the player doesn't have the skill to pull off what he did in the much discussed match.

Another discussion is that I think it's ridiculous for any US court to claim jurisdiction in such a case, especially against non-US citizens. But we'll see if it goes that far. They may dismiss it.

[KyriakosCH]

But in that beach tournament, Niemann again won a game against Carlsen, and the latter didn't say anything about cheating back then
Iirc although Hans lost all of his match-ups in that tournament, he still won here and there (and tied), so while he ended up with losing (on overall points) to all other players, it wasn't like what would happen to one of us if we had played 

Cheating online is very likely something a number of gms have done, so Niemann wouldn't be alone in that category either - and he was 15-17 afaik when it was proven he cheated online. Imo all tournaments that have prizes should be over the board anyway...

Regarding the game Carlsen (who tends to lose a lot, lately ^_^ ) lost to Niemann and which led to the drama, I have watched it and the engine-like move is similar to stuff you can see Carlsen do; it involved giving up a piece with the calculation that you'd take back at least as much in 3-4 moves and improve pawn position. So personally - not that I am in any way an expert on chess... - I didn't see what was so monumental about what Niemann managed to do there.

[Snarky]

Chess.com's investigation concluded that Niemann has almost certainly cheated in hundreds of online tournament games, right up until the present, and that a number of his face-to-face games are also highly suspicious. Most chess experts appear to agree with that assessment, and they are much better qualified to judge than any of us.

And it's been demonstrated that it's pretty easy for a determined cheater to foil the security checks for face-to-face games (though probably not using a "vibrating butt plug" as some have suggested).

It doesn't really matter if Niemann cheated in a particular match against Carlsen if he is an habitual cheat in general. Short of a confession by Niemann or a confederate, or him being caught red-handed, we'll never have absolute proof of that, but the case appears solid. (As for the legal outcome, the Johnny Depp case shows that American juries can be swayed to some absurd outcomes in defamation cases.)

[KyriakosCH]

Imo the lawsuit might have been the only way to get the ridiculous views-farming to stop, particularly by one of those Hans sued.
Also, I read that he is representing US (as the highest ranked in the mission) in the latest otb tournament. Although this can be read in many ways - he did finish relatively high in the recent Us championship, but #1 there chose to not participate in the new tournament in Israel.

[heltenjon]

not that I am in any way an expert on chess... -

I can see that. Sorry, but this discussion seems pointless.

[KyriakosCH]

not that I am in any way an expert on chess... -

I can see that. Sorry, but this discussion seems pointless.

Fair enough It was meant as a "weird news" type of thing, not a chess analysis thread.

[Retro Wolf]

He's clearly manipulating a device wrapped around his left shoulder, there's also an implant that vibrates his inner ear. You can't see the scar from the surgery because of all that hair!

[KyriakosCH]

His haircut is rather awesome anyway 

[LimpingFish]

Is this the vibrating anal beads story?

I only ask because I didn't want to miss an opportunity to type "vibrating anal beads".

[KyriakosCH]

Yes, although it is highly unlikely that was ever realistic as a mechanism used. Probably played a role in Hans' decision to sue, since no one likes to be a joke on the web