Latest news with #HansNiemann
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Chess: Aronian takes big top prize in Las Vegas as Niemann celebrates Carlsen's downfall
Levon Aronian, at 42 the oldest in the tournament, scored what he described as 'one of the crown jewels' of his career to win the $200,000 (£148,000) first prize at the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Grand Slam last weekend. Aronian did it in style, winning matches against the world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, the No 2, Hikaru Nakamura and the No 5, Arjun Erigaisi en route to victory. Carlsen had to settle for the third prize of $100,000, plus the further indignity of finishing behind his arch enemy, Hans Niemann, whose game with the Norwegian at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup led to allegations of cheating and a $100m lawsuit, which was eventually settled out of court. Niemann was invited to join the commentary team for the final stages of Aronian v Carlsen and made the most of his triumph and a post-game reunion with the former. Carlsen blamed his defeat on a 'complete collapse' of his nervous system. Besides his failure against Aronian, he also allowed Wesley So a mate in four moves. In fairness, he recovered well from his expensive early errors, scored five successive wins before defeating Nakamura in the third-place match, and still leads the overall Tour standings going into the next multi-hub leg in September and the final in Cape Town in December. Niemann showed commanding form when he defeated the US champion, Fabiano Caruana, against whom he had previously had poor results, by 2.5-1.5. In their third game, Caruana settled for a draw by threefold repetition when he had an edge, prompting Niemann to say he was not surprised: 'I think that my nerves, when there's low time, are clearly better than his. I play a lot more blitz, I'm younger, and I also play much faster.' Niemann finally met his match in the final for the $200,000 top prize, which Aronian won 1.5-0.5, but only after a double blunder where the former could have won a pawn race to queen but missed a simple deciding move. Nakamura also failed to clinch a winning sequence against Carlsen before losing 0.5-1.5. It seems that the psychological burden of playing for a total of half a million dollars proved difficult for all of them. The Freestyle Tour's future is unclear. Its huge $3.75m prize fund dwarfs even the $1.5m for chess in the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia next week, but is related to a $12m investment by the venture capital firm Left Lane Capital, which was made on the apparent assumption that the Tour would attract major television coverage. That does not appear to be the case so far, even though the event was a sell-out for the hundreds of spectators, who were allowed to bring in mobile phones and could talk loudly, with the players protected from the noise by earphones. The time controls, which were originally slow classical to satisfy Carlsen, were speeded up to one hour rapid in the interest of a fast-paced event. The Tour suffers in the eyes of the majority of grandmasters because entry is in effect restricted to the top 25-30 players in the world, with ratings above Fide 2725. Beyond that, there remains the troubling problem that, although Freestyle Chess sparks creativity and greatly reduces the need for opening preparation, it also makes it harder for even strong players viewing the games to relate the positions to their previous experience. One of the more easily understandable games, and an elegant victory, was Nakamura v So, where the world No 2 trapped his opponent's queen in just 17 moves. Elsewhere, last weekend's English Championship at Kenilworth, Warwickshire, turned into a trial of strength between the country's top two grandmasters, the world senior champion, Michael Adams, and the former Russian champion Nikita Vitiugov, which continued right into a tie-break for first prize which Adams edged 2.5-1.5. It was an impressive performance by Adams, the 53-year-old from Taunton, Somerset, whose wins over the defending champion, Gawain Jones, and England's youngest grandmaster, 16-year-old Shreyas Royal, were both of the highest class. Adams's tie-break strategy against Vitiugov, keeping a tight grip on the position until his opponent lost patience, was also very effective. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Vitiugov lost little in defeat. He is a strong grandmaster in the Soviet tradition, and showed his quality by a fine attacking win against Ameet Ghasi in the final round. Royal had the best tie-break of those tied for third, played an excellent attack against John Emms, and appeared a potential 2600 player. Matthew Wadsworth, whose GM title has just been confirmed by Fide, looked the part. Final leading scores were Adams and Vitiugov 6/7, Royal, Wadsworth, Peter Roberson, and Jones 5.5. Elmira Mirzoeva retained the English Women's title. The old hands triumphed, while the losers were the ambitious amateurs and the teen or sub-teen juniors, groups that lacked outstanding performers. They will not have to wait long for another opportunity, though, because the British Championship starts at Liverpool next Thursday. Meanwhile Dan Fernandez, the 30-year-old England No 16, who is ambitious to break into the Olympiad team, has just scored a career-best result at the Ghent Open in Belgium, winning first prize with a spectacular 7.5/9, two points clear of the field and with a 2645 tournament performance rating. India's 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh defeated China's Tan Zhongyi 1.5-0.5 to reach Saturday's final of the Women's World Cup in Batumi, Georgia. Deshmukh will meet her compatriot Humpy Koneru, who won 5-3 against China's Lei Tingjie in the second semi-final. Finally, a word on American Chess Magazine, which is one of the best of its kind. The latest issue includes a rare account by Boris Spassky of his first meeting with Bobby Fischer, an analysis of the best queen sacrifices in chess history, advice on openings, and much more. 3982 1 Rxe8+! Rxe8 2 Nxf6+ gxf6 3 Bb5! Resigns. White wins the e8 rook or mates by Qg4+ and Qg7.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'I don't need an apology': Hans Niemann after making his maiden Freestyle Chess Grand Slam final on debut appearance
Hans Niemann during the Las Vegas Leg of Freestyle chess Grand Slam Tour (Freestyle Chess/Lennart Ootes) Hans Niemann's resurgence on the global chess stage continues to make headlines. The American Grandmaster, who has been at the centre of controversy since his fallout with world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in 2022, has stormed into the final of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam on his debut appearance. Following his semifinal victory over Fabiano Caruana, Niemann took to X (formerly Twitter) to send a defiant message: 'I don't need an apology, my comeback will be on the chess board, nothing else!' — HansMokeNiemann (@HansMokeNiemann) The Wynn Las Vegas is hosting the first-ever Freestyle Chess Grand Slam on US soil, featuring a $750,000 prize pool. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! In an all-American final, Niemann and Levon Aronian will clash in Sunday's grand finale for a $200,000 first prize. Neither player has previously won a Grand Slam title, making this final one for the history books. Poll Who do you think will win the final of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam? Hans Niemann Levon Aronian Niemann's path to the final wasn't easy. His semifinal duel with Caruana saw two intense classical draws before Niemann showcased his attacking flair in rapid tiebreakers, eventually winning 2½–1½. Aronian, meanwhile, has been the tournament's giant-killer, eliminating both Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura before sweeping Arjun Erigaisi 2–0 in the semis. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The lower bracket remains stacked with big names, Carlsen, Nakamura, Wesley So, and R Praggnanandhaa, all competing for a third-place finish. Carlsen, who stunned fans with an early group-stage exit, is aiming for redemption after a rocky start in Las Vegas. Niemann's performance is particularly symbolic, given his long-running feud with Carlsen that began at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup. ALSO READ: Despite being told 'Can't invite you to Las Vegas', Hans Niemann turns up, awaits Magnus Carlsen in 'Battle of Baddies' While his critics continue to question him, Niemann appears focused solely on proving himself over the board. With the final looming, all eyes will be on this fiery American talent, who is on the brink of the biggest victory of his career. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hans Niemann on Magnus Carlsen losing two games in Vegas – 'Best day of my life'
Hans Niemann in action during the Las Vegas Leg of Freestyle chess Grand Slam Tour (Freestyle Chess | Lennart Ootes) American Grandmaster Hans Niemann finished second in Group 2 of the ongoing Freestyle Grand Slam Tour Las Vegas leg, behind World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura. But the 22-year-old was happier about World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen 's twin losses. While doing commentary, Niemann was seen celebrating after Levon Aronian defeated Magnus Carlsen. He said: 'You know what they say, karma is a…. I don't want to finish the sentence. Levon, I'm taking you to dinner tonight.' Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Carlsen had earlier lost to Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa. He ended fifth, ahead of Vincent Keymer of Germany, Wesley So, and the lone woman participant, Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, and is out of title contention. While talking to Take Take Take, Niemann was high in spirits. He said: 'Great day, amazing day. My two losses have been erased from memory. This is the best day of my life in the last two years.' 'I loved doing commentary. I really think that this is such a great tournament. This is what chess should be. You will never have such endings in classical. I really liked my win against Vidit Gujrathi,' he added. On not playing Magnus, the 22-year-old said: 'It's not about how I feel; it's about how he feels.' Poll How do you feel about Magnus Carlsen's performance in the tournament? Disappointing Expected Surprising Quarterfinal Pairings Praggnanandhaa vs Caruana Abdusattorov vs Arjun Aronian vs Nakamura Niemann vs Sindarov Lower Bracket : Carlsen vs Gujrathi Robson vs Keymer Dominguez vs Assaubayeva Samuel vs Wesley Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'I'm 22 years old' – Hans Niemann takes a swipe at Magnus Carlsen
File photo of USA's Hans Niemann. (Image: X) American Grandmaster Hans Niemann has taken a jibe at Magnus Carlsen ahead of the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, where the duo are likely to lock horns. Niemann is one of the 16 players participating in the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. In his group, he will face Fabiano Caruana, Arjun Erigaisi, and Vidit Gujrathi. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I honestly think that more pressure is on them because they have much more to lose than me," Niemann told ChessBase India. 'For me, I'm 22 years old. I have 10 chances against them, right? If I lose to them, it's not something to be embarrassed about, right? "They're great players, but for them, if they lose—considering the history—it would be quite devastating, you know? So, I think they feel more pressure. 'Even recently, my results against Hikaru and Magnus online have been very good. "I think against Hikaru this year, I'm 5½–1½, and all the wins I had were decisive in winning the tournament. So, I'm outperforming Hikaru. I beat Magnus and Hikaru back-to-back. Poll Who do you think will face more pressure in their upcoming match: Hans Niemann or Magnus Carlsen? Hans Niemann Magnus Carlsen Both are equally stressed Neither, they are both confident "Even against Alireza, I'm 3-0 recently. So, I don't feel the same nerves I used to feel against the top guys. I guess having opportunities to play them in online blitz helps you acclimatise to their level and to the potential stress that can arise throughout the game. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sunteck Launches Windcrest Collection 2 & 3 BHKs from ₹1.27 Cr* Sunteck Sky Park Learn More Undo "They have much more to lose. So, I would say they're stressed (facing me). If you saw my rapid game against Hikaru—he was completely winning, but then he blundered. I've been tricking him a lot. So, it's a sign of stress.' If the two do face off, it will be only the third time Carlsen and Niemann have played each other since the Norwegian accused Niemann of cheating after losing to him in a Sinquefield Cup game in 2022. That incident led to a $100 million lawsuit, which was eventually settled. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'He was treated badly, based on speculation' - Anish Giri defends Hans Niemann
Hans Niemann (right) and Anish Giri (X | @HansMokeNiemann) Anish Giri has defended Hans Niemann, who is facing cheating allegations from top chess players. The Dutch GM has recently been seen interacting with American GM Hans Niemann on social media. Talking to Take Take Take, Giri said: 'It triggered me. The story with Hans, it really triggered me. Because I was all okay with what was happening. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "But I wanted to see proof that he was cheating. I was waiting for it. But it just wouldn't come. "I was waiting for the proof. But at some point, I realized, okay, there is no proof. They don't have proof. "And he was treated like he was guilty. And nobody convinced me that he was guilty at all. I found the way he was treated extremely unjust. "Especially compared to other people. And with Hans, suddenly there was this massive thing, which I found unjust as long as it's not proven. It sort of triggered me as well, in some sense. I felt that, you know, why should I treat him badly based on speculation? And if he hadn't been cheating, what has happened to him is very unjust,' he said. Giri also opened up about the relationships among the top chess players. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo 'First of all, these relationships are extremely complicated. A combination of rivalry and friendship and mutual respect and hatred all at the same time. "I wouldn't call it hatred in a human sense. "You should also realize that when we speak of this kind of rivalry, they would never wish each other bad health. Or, God forbid, that something bad would happen in their life or in their family. Or that their house would get flooded. They don't want that. But they want them to lose. "They want them to lose badly. And again and again. And I wanted him to lose. But now that he lost, I want him to get back up, so I can punch him again, you know?' "Would you say anyone inside the Top 10 right now is your friend?" Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
