The world of chess has been pitched into crisis after one of the sport’s rising stars was accused of cheating in more than 100 matches.
As Bryan Graham tells Michael Safi, the 19-year-old American player Hans Niemann has vigorously denied the allegations first made by world champion Magnus Carlsen and then laid out in an investigation by Chess.com. Instead, Niemann insisted he had cheated only twice in the past: first as a 12-year-old in an online tournament, and then as a 16-year-old playing unrated games while streaming.
The scandal has engulfed chess and left fans of the sport fearful for its future. With computers already far outstripping the abilities of human players, the integrity of face-to-face and online tournaments depends on the honesty of the humans making the moves. With that now in some doubt, the multi-million dollar industry is aware it has a serious problem and needs to act fast.
Photograph: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club Support The Guardian
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