Outsider to crowd-puller: How Hans Niemann, once accused of cheating Magnus Carlsen, has retraced the steps to credibility | Chess News

American Grandmaster Hans Niemann is one of the most polarising figures in chess. His persona, of a master of the oxygen-consuming headline who turns stubbornness into a shield, makes him easy to detest, equally tough to idolise, and almost impossible to ignore.
He feels lost and confused when asked about his current standing in his career. “I’m at a point in my career where I’m honestly a bit lost. I feel like I’m just in a phase of confusion. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t,” Niemann tells The Indian Express.
Much of that uncertainty comes from his inconsent results in recent tournaments, especially in shorter time controls, where he has fluctuated from brilliant to average in a short span. Yet, he can take solace that the discourse around him centres on his play rather than his past. This return to normalcy shows how far he has come since the controversies that threatened to stall his career.
The global firestorm of Magnus Carlsen’s cheating allegations once turned Niemann to an outsider. He was exposed to a level of online vitriol and isolation that would have broken many players, yet he seems to draw a strange energy from the same friction.
He has his own way of tackling situations. Niemann teamed up with Vladimir Kramnik, the same former world champion who, like Carlsen, had once accused him of cheating and forfeited an online game in protest. Niemann reached out to Kramnik, and within a few months, he convinced him that he was worthy of the Russian’s time, eventually training with him in Switzerland. He also filed a $100 million lawsuit against Chess.com, Carlsen, and Hikaru Nakamura, whom he calls the “chess mafia,” for tarnishing his image without proof, even forcing a settlement outside of court.
Niemann likes to wage a war of personality against an establishment he claims is rigged against him. That same “chess mafia” also indirectly spurred his project, Endgame.AI.
Opportunity in adversity
Niemann has promoted Endgame.AI, an online chess platform that bills itself as a global, accessible alternative to giants like Chess.com. “For too long, chess has been controlled insiders. That changes now. Endgame is breaking down barriers. No more gatekeepers, no more hidden deals,” claims the website.Story continues below this ad
Business and politics have always attracted the young American. He says entrepreneurship has helped him build a support system without needing to depend on anyone. “I was always interested in the things that are happening in the world. I had a lot of friends who had started companies and were experienced in the Venture Capital world, or were entrepreneurs,” he says.
“The way the company started was a series of coincidences, just meeting people who had invested in my friends. And then I was surprised at how quickly the company took off. Obviously, my absolute focus is on becoming the best chess player I can be and maximizing my potential. But I also find it interesting to be, let’s say, an entrepreneur or a CEO. I don’t think it detracts too much from my chess. If anything, it’s emboldening to have my own company and a team behind me. It gives you confidence and helps you weather certain storms,” he adds.
He leverages his own platforms to host one-on-one showdowns against top players, generating significant interest from both viewers and sponsors.
In Kolkata, during the Tata Steel chess tournament, Niemann wore a serious look. He attributes this to the fatigue of playing so many tournaments back-to-back. Yet, when a fan held up a poster reading, “We love you Hans Niemann,” he broke the mould and acknowledged the affection.Story continues below this ad
He appreciated the huge crowd for the event. “It’s a great step for chess to have so many spectators. To have that type of enthusiasm is really important. I think (with) this many fans… I’ve never really experienced (anything like it) outside of India. In Goa, it was similar, but honestly, we should play in a bigger ballroom next time. We can fit more people. So I would love to see chess in a stadium or the largest possible venue,” he says.
Now, Niemann is set to feature in the Tata Steel Masters event in Wijk aan Zee and has also been nominated the organisers of Freestyle Chess as a contender for the upcoming FIDE Freestyle World Championship. As new opportunities arise, Niemann understands that in the digital age, being hated can be as powerful as being liked, so long as you are not forgotten.