Chess prodigy Hans Niemann’s $100 million libel lawsuit against a fellow grandmaster who accused him of cheating has been thrown out by a judge.
The 19-year-old was at the centre of a storm last year after a shock victory in the prestigious Sinquefield Cup in St Louis against Magnus Carlsen.
Norwegian chess world champion Carlsen claimed Niemann had cheated during the match, leading to a slew of online allegations and theories about what had happened.
Carlsen then withdrew after one move from an online match against the teenager, before alleging Niemann had cheated “more - and more recently - than he has publicly admitted”.
The scandal grew when online chess platform Chess.com accused Niemann of more than 100 instances of cheating.
Wild speculation and rumors swirled online, including a suggestion floated by chess podcasters that Niemann had used vibrating anal beads to receive tips.
Niemann filed a $100 million lawsuit in Missouri, saying he has been shunned by chess tournaments and alleging he is the victim of a plot to “blacklist” him from the game.
But on Tuesday Judge Audrey G. Fleissig dismissed federal antitrust claims in Niemann’s case and refused to accept jurisdiction over libel and slander claims, bringing the lawsuit to an end.
In a statement, Carlsen’s lawyer Craig M. Reiser said: “We are pleased the Court has rejected Hans Niemann’s attempt to recover an undeserved windfall in Missouri federal court, and that Niemann’s attempt to chill speech through strategic litigation in that forum has failed.”
Chess.com said through legal representatives that it is “happy to see an end to this saga”.
Chess.com has banned Niemann from competing in its online tournaments, and has produced a report alleging widespread cheating.
Niemann has admitted to cheating in online chess matches when he was 12 and 16 years old, but denies breaking the rules during in-person matches or contests for prize money.
The Chess.com report claims Niemann has privately confessed to cheating, during a Zoom call and in statements written online.
