American grandmaster Hans Niemann has once again launched a strong criticism against Magnus Carlsen, accusing him of breaking the rules after Carlsen agreed to share the World Blitz title with Ian Nepomniachtchi during the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship.
The longstanding tension between the two players stems from Carlsen’s earlier accusations of cheating against Niemann, which led to an expensive lawsuit. Although the two eventually reached an out-of-court settlement, the bad blood between them remains.
Niemann’s Accusations on Social Media
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Niemann accused Carlsen of manipulating the situation, claiming that Carlsen thought FIDE would accept his proposal simply because he had withdrawn from the blitz event and made "ridiculous demands."
“You broke the rules on camera, you only thought they would agree to your proposal because you dropped out of the blitz and made ridiculous demands,” Niemann wrote. “FIDE will hopefully take a stand and remind us all that no player is above the game.”
Niemann continued, addressing FIDE’s previous failure to hold Carlsen accountable for his earlier actions: “They failed to hold you accountable when you tried to ruin my life, I hope they’ve learned their lesson.”
Magnus Carlsen's Joking Remarks Spark Outrage
The controversy intensified after a video surfaced showing Carlsen joking with Nepomniachtchi. In the video, Carlsen suggested that if FIDE did not allow them to share the World Blitz title, the two could continue "playing out short draws until FIDE gives up."
This comment sparked outrage on social media, with many, including Niemann, Srinath Narayanan, and chess legend Susan Polgar, condemning the remark as inappropriate and unethical.
Carlsen's Response to the Backlash
Carlsen quickly responded to the backlash, explaining that his remarks were meant as a joke. On X, Carlsen clarified, “I’ve never prearranged a draw in my career. In the video I’m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules. This was obviously not an attempt to influence FIDE."
He further stated, “It was said in the spirit that I thought FIDE would agree to our proposal. If anything it was a bad joke given the gravity of the situation.” Carlsen emphasized that the match itself was a demonstration of high-level chess and that both players deserved recognition for their performance.
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky Defends the Organization
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky also weighed in on the controversy, lambasting Carlsen for his comments in a lengthy social media post. Sutovsky made it clear that FIDE would not remain silent about the situation and would take a firm stance.
“I am there to stay for quite some time,” Sutovsky wrote.
Niemann’s Defiant Response to FIDE
In response to Sutovsky’s comments, Niemann reiterated his stance that no player is above the game. He concluded, “FIDE’s decision will define chess’s future. I hope they choose the right side of history.”
This ongoing saga has intensified the debate surrounding integrity and fairness in competitive chess, especially as both Carlsen and Niemann continue to be central figures in the chess world.