‘Untold’, Are Hans Niemann And Magnus Carlsen Still Feuding Over Cheating Scandal? ‘An Apology…’

The Hans Niemann vs Magnus Carlsen feud is back in the spotlight after the high-profile controversy was explored in the Netflix series, Untold: Chess Mates. Part of Netflix’s acclaimed Untold sports series, this 74-minute film examines the 2022 cheating scandal that erupted after Han’s victory over world number one, Magnus Carlsen at the Sinquefield Cup. The documentary features cold, candid, and extensive interviews with Hans Niemann, Magnus Carlsen, and others involved in the drama. Here’s an explanation of the controversy and exploration of the current dynamics between the chess stars.

What was the Hans Niemann vs Magnus Carlsen controversy about?

It all started on September 4, 2022, when Hans Niemann, who was a 19-year-old American Grandmaster at that time, defeated Magnus Carlsen with the black pieces, ending his 53-game unbeaten streak. The next day, Magnus withdrew from the tournament, a move which was absolutely unprecedented in his career. He didn’t stop at that; the biggest shock came when he posted a cryptic video of soccer coach, José Mourinho saying, “If I speak, I am in big trouble.” That sparked rumours of the duo feuding over something since they locked horns at the Sinquefield Cup 2022.

The matter escalated further when, in a subsequent online match, Magnus (now 35) resigned after making only one move against Hans. The former later issued a formal statement directly accusing the latter of cheating more extensively than the young player had admitted. For the unversed, Hans had previously admitted to cheating in online games at ages 12 and 16 but denied ever cheating in over-the-board (live) play, including the Sinquefield Cup match against the Norwegian chess grandmaster.

Did Hans Niemann actually cheat in the game against Magnus Carlsen?

After the Hans Niemann cheating scandal broke the internet, an investigatory panel was set up. After thorough analysis, they concluded in December 2023 that there was no evidence of over-the-board cheating by Hans. FIDE, instead, fined Magnus Carlsen 11,696 USD for withdrawing from the tournament without a “valid reason,” though they acknowledged his suspicions were based on “reasonable grounds” given Hans’ past. A 72-page report by Chess.com released in October 2022 found that Hans Niemann had likely cheated in more than 100 online games until 2020, including events with prize money.

However, the report also stated that there was a lack of concrete statistical evidence that Hans cheated in the game against Magnus or any other in-person match. Additionally, Ken Regan, a leading expert in chess cheating detection, also analysed Hans’ games (including the Sinquefield Cup win) and found no evidence of cheating.

Is Hans Niemann still salty about Magnus Carlsen accusing him of cheating?

After Hans Niemann was cleared of the cheating scandal, both he and Magnus Carlsen agreed to move forward without further litigation in August 2023. Hans was reinstated on Chess.com, and Carlsen agreed to play him if they got paired in future events. Despite the legal resolution, the personal rift might not have been resolved. Hans Niemann recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he never received an apology for the 2022 accusations. He further mentioned that the kind of behaviour showed his detractors’ character and wrote:

“I never received an apology. Let that sink in. I don’t need one, but it shows the character of my detractors. As I’ve always said, my greatest vindication will be on the chessboard. Be patient and the world will see.”

The release of the Netflix documentary, Untold: Chess Mates in April 2026 has reignited the public friction between Hans and Magnus. The former made aggressive comments, calling himself a “stone cold killer” and expressing a desire to see Magnus’ downfall as he gets older. Thus, the feud between the two had definitely not ended, at least not from Hans Niemann’s side.

What are your thoughts on Hans Niemann’s ill feelings towards Magnus Carlsen even after four years of their cheating scandal? Let us know.

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