The traditional London Chess Classic started on Friday, and Hans Niemann, the most controversial character in the game, arrived at the board in the form of his life. The US 20-year-old, who made headlines when the world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, refused to play him, and who subsequently launched a $100m lawsuit against Carlsen and others, has been in constant action since their out of court settlement three months ago.
Niemann’s form had dipped below the 2700 elite grandmaster level, but he performed well in the recent Grand Swiss and US Championships before his stellar and career-best success at Zagreb, Croatia, this week, where he outclassed a strong field, winning first prize by a three-point margin in a complex, confident style.
