– There were some strange things that happened, described former world champion Vladimir Kramnik in a video analysis after a game against Hans Niemann last week. The Russian further described that he felt “uncomfortable” after some “unusual moves” from Niemann. His statements have once again caused a storm in the chess world, where suggestions that Niemann is a cheater have been a regular occurrence in the past year. Kramnik’s move came after he lost a game against Niemann on chess.com. He challenged the American to a rematch, but then Kramnik chose to lose on purpose. PLAY: Kramnik suggests that there is something wrong with Niemann. Photo: NTB The Russian played an opening that allowed Niemann to checkmate quickly. Then the 20-year-old chose to give up the party in a kind of protest against Kramnik’s protest. – He appears as a sore loser. Kramnik lost in a position he is known to be good at, and then it hurts him extra, says chess expert Sheila Barth Stanford to news. Vladimir Kramnik Born June 25, 1975. World Chess Champion between 2000-2006. Became the world’s highest-ranked player already at the age of 20. Has a total of nine months at the top of the ranking list. Has the eighth highest chess rating of all time: 2817 points. Niemann’s surprising proposal Now Niemann himself has finally commented on the statements from Kramnik through a video on X/Twitter. – I am a big fan of yours and you are someone I have looked up to for a long time, he begins before addressing Kramnik’s recent video. Instead of hitting back hard against the 48-year-old, Niemann makes an unusual proposal. – We can have a training camp together where you can analyze my chess on a deeper level. I will gladly play against you, study positions and you can get a more nuanced understanding of my interesting playing time, which you have talked about a lot, says the youngster. Niemann asks Kramnik to get in touch and that the Russian should of course be paid for any training sessions they have together. – Please consider it. I hope it is an interesting proposition for you. – He is overexposed Barth Standford believes that the proposal from Niemann shows that he takes the cheating accusations seriously. – He seems very composed. I wish I was so collected when I was 20, she says. Niemann streamed the match against Kramnik on the internet. Barth Stanford wonders how the great talent managed to cheat when so many people are watching. EXPERT: Sheila Barth Stanford. Photo: Rune Stoltz Bertinussen / NTB scanpix She believes that it is a serious invitation from Niemann to Kramnik. – I can’t help but think that he appears sincere. He seems confident that he can convince Kramnik that he has done nothing wrong, says the chess expert. Barth Stanford points out that there are several other good players who have been caught cheating at a young age, but have escaped the worst of the storm. In this sense, Niemann has taken the brunt of what is a bigger problem in chess. – He is overexposed. Last autumn, Niemann was accused of cheating by Magnus Carlsen and banned from chess.com. The American followed up by suing the Norwegian. The lawsuit was dismissed, but Niemann and Carlsen have now buried the hatchet. – It is sad that Kramnik has faced a lot of opposition after the outings against Niemann. The Danish-Scottish grandmaster Jacob Aagaard believes that the American acts as the older of the two. – It is sad when my generation is taught maturity by “millenials”. At the same time, it is nice to see that we are making progress as a species, he writes on X/Twitter. Jon-Ludvig Hammer told TV 2 that Kramnik has a reputation for being a bad loser, and that the accusations against Niemann appear thin. – It is understood to be an accusation of cheating, but it is safe to say that his arguments do not hold up. When he (Niemann) played quickly it was suspicious, but also when he thought. There is no doubt what he means, Hammer told the channel.
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