Bengaluru: The Netflix documentary 'Untold: Chess Mates' revisits the infamous cheating controversy that rocked the chess world in 2022. The 75-minute film largely rehashes what chess fans already know – the accusations, lawsuit, and absurd anal beads controversy.
Magnus Carlsen, the world No.1 and five-time world champion, shares his thoughts on the incident, saying he was surprised to be the best in the world at chess. Hans Niemann, the American Grandmaster, is portrayed as a chess villain, vowing to be a 'stone-cold killer'.
Niemann was accused of cheating after defeating Carlsen twice – in the FTX Crypto Cup in Miami and the Sinquefield Cup. Carlsen withdrew from the tournament and tweeted a video of Jose Mourinho saying, 'If I speak, I'm in big trouble.' The meme suggesting Niemann used anal beads to receive signals went viral.
Niemann admitted to cheating in online games when he was younger but denied cheating in over-the-board games. He was banned temporarily from Chess.com and filed a $100 million lawsuit against Carlsen and Chess.com, which was eventually settled out of court.
The documentary leaves the audience with the same mistrust and misgivings as before, with little new information revealed. The saga of accusations and mistrust continues, with the chess world still reeling from the controversy.
