Chess Prodigy’s $100M Libel Suit Tossed by Judge.
A federal judge has tossed chess prodigy Hans Niemann’s $100 million libel lawsuit against fellow grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. Niemann, 19, filed the lawsuit last year in US District Court for Missouri, accusing Norwegian chess world champion Carlsen of slandering him by accusing him of cheating in a tournament.
Young Player Accused of Cheating by World Champion
The saga began at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis in September 2022. Niemann, then ranked 18th in the world, was playing against Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked player. Niemann won the match, and Carlsen later accused him of cheating. Carlsen claimed that he saw Niemann fidgeting with his ear during the game and believed Niemann was using a Bluetooth earpiece to receive help from a second party.
Niemann denied cheating, and he filed a libel lawsuit against Carlsen. In his case, Niemann alleged that Carlsen’s accusations had damaged his reputation and cost him sponsorship opportunities. He sought $100 million in damages.
The Judge’s Ruling
In a ruling issued on June 27, 2023, Judge John Ross of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri tossed out Niemann’s lawsuit. Ross found that the First Amendment protected Carlsen’s accusations. He also found that Niemann had failed to prove that Carlsen’s accusations were false.
Niemann’s Admission to Cheating
In a statement released after the ruling, Niemann admitted to cheating in online chess matches when he was 12 and 16. However, he denied ever cheating in a tournament involving prize money.
Niemann Admits to Cheating, Carlsen Wins
The ruling is a significant setback for Niemann, who had hoped to clear his name and recover damages. It is also a victory for Carlsen, who has been accused of cheating. However, the ruling does not definitively answer whether or not Niemann cheated in the Sinquefield Cup.
The case of Hans Niemann and Magnus Carlsen is a reminder of the importance of due process in the American legal system. Even though Niemann admitted to cheating in online chess matches, he was still entitled to a fair trial. Ultimately, the judge found that the First Amendment protected Carlsen’s accusations and that Niemann had failed to prove they were false.
The original news is “Chess Prodigy’s $100M Libel Suit Tossed by Judge.“