The Niemann Gambit: Sue Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, And Chess.com For $100+ Million

International Chess Grandmaster Hans Niemann has sued World Champion Magnus Carlsen, top chess commentator Hikaru Nakamura, and top online platform Chess.com for over $100 million. Will chess finally generate mass interest?

Poor Sports

On September 4, 2022, Hans Niemann spectacularly upset World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen.

Playing the black pieces in classical time format, Niemann beat Carlsen in 57 moves. Imagine a .500 NBA team beating Michael Jordan’s ‘95-’96 Bulls in Chicago by 20 points.

Niemann’s win broke Carlsen’s 53-game unbeaten streak in classical time format. The win also hobbled Carlsen’s chances of reaching a 2900 FIDE rating or ever breaking his own previous unbeaten-streak record of 125 games.

Giddy and Ungracious Winner

In a streamed post-match interview, the 19-year-old Niemann came across as both giddy and ungracious, saying, “Magnus must be embarrassed to lose against such an idiot like me.”

Perhaps Niemann’s youth played a part. Perhaps the excitement of what was — and may remain — the high point of his career got the better of him. Or perhaps trash talk has simply spread to chess.

Sore Loser

Carlsen’s response was even stranger — and more boorish. He withdrew from the tournament, posting a not-very-cryptic tweet implying that Niemann had cheated.

For those having trouble connecting the dots, International Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura — one of the world’s most popular chess commentators — made plain what Carlsen had implied. Nakamura’s “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” analysis called into question every move of Niemann’s game and every nuance of his interview. Without using the “C” word (”cheat”), Nakamura effectively called Niemann one.

On September 9, 2022, Chess.com, the dominant online chess platform, banned Niemann, stating that "We have shared detailed evidence with him concerning our decision, including the information that contradicts his statements [about] the amount and seriousness of his cheating on Chess.com.”

A Circular Firing Squad

Former World Champion Garry Kasparov, now the sport’s elder statesman, called for reason and calm. He also appealed to people’s wallets, stating “Unless the chess world is to be dragged down into endless pathetic rumors, clear statements must be made. Creating favor and factions based on hearsay and cryptic bullshit is damaging to the game. These players, especially the world champion, and companies should realize that. Sponsors and organizers don’t enjoy the toxic environment as much as social media might.”

His argument fell on deaf ears. Carlsen grossly snubbed Niemann in their next match by resigning after the first move. Carlsen then stated bluntly, “I believe that Niemann has cheated more often than he admits and that it was not as long ago as he claims.” Nakamura’s sniping continued. And Chess.com published an extensive report claiming that Niemann "has likely cheated in more than 100 online chess games, including several prize money events" without asserting that Niemann cheated in his now infamous in-person game against Carlsen, or in other face-to-face matches.

Niemann, for his part, admitted cheating in the past but emphatically denied cheating recently or against Magnus: “I cheated on random games on Chess.com....I was confronted. I confessed....I have never cheated in an over-the-board game. And other than when I was 12 years old I have never cheated in a tournament with prize money on online games.”

Facing destruction of his reputation and career, Niemann filed suit against Carlsen, Nakamura, and Chess.com. Niemann’s claims include slander, libel, unlawful restraint of trade (anti-trust violation), tortious interference with contract and business expectancies, and civil conspiracy. Niemann seeks over $100 million in damages.

Follow The Money

Niemann’s lawsuit contains no revelations about his alleged cheating. All dirty laundry has had ample and public airing.

But Kasparov’s appeal to wallets warrants a closer look. Niemann’s complaint describes interrelated business dealings among Chess.com, Carlsen, and Nakamura.

Is One Hand Washing the Other?

Chess.com, as the dominant online chess platform, holds sway over the world of chess. It runs prize-money tournaments and has commercial deals with top players and commentators. In particular, in August 2022, Chess.com apparently agreed to buy Carlsen’s platform Play Magnus for nearly $83 million. Hikaru Nakamura reportedly has over one million followers on Chess.com and is one of that platform’s most popular and prolific streaming partners.

As a sports icon, Magnus Carlsen ranks with Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods. Carlsen has not only dominated his sport for years, but has driven interest and revenue wherever and whenever he plays. Arguably, the defendants in Niemann’s lawsuit may have had financial interests in Magnus’s staying on top, as well as in covering each other’s backs.

Discovery and Disclosure

Niemann’s allegations foretell intensive and extensive litigation discovery. Whether a smoking gun will be found one way or the other remains to be seen.

What seems obvious, however, is that Chess.com and Hikaru Nakamura should have disclosed their financial interests and relationships as they bore upon the September 4 Carlsen-Niemann match and its aftermath. One hopes for the sake of the sport that Carlsen and Chess.com did not collude in banning Niemann (which Chess.com’s statement banning Niemann repeatedly denies), nor Nakamura in trashing him.

Everybody is entitled to his day in court; all of the parties involved here may need it.

For most people, the scandal and litigation will prove more interesting that chess itself. A Pyrrhic victory. While this fracas may garner attention and interest, it will fail to win the sport of chess new fans.

As has been the case throughout his career, Kasparov has seen deeper and farther than others. His comments call to mind those of the character Walter Sobchak in the film, The Big Lebowski: “This isn’t [Viet]’Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.”

The Niemann lawsuit shows us there may be rules in the game of chess, but not in the business of chess.

Chess fans are entering a world of pain....

#therightwaytowin