Carlsen resigns on move 2

[JustinHorton]

. He indicated he was living out of a suitcase during this time and was devoted to studying and playing chess. Presumably he was travelling to these tournaments on his own. If he was cheating in any of these OTB tournaments then how was he doing it? If he was on his own then how could he receive outside help?

You would at least think questions like this might receive more attention than they do.

[Mick Norris]

There is presumably the possibility of speaking to people who were at some of these events to find out who Niemann was travelling with

We suspect that the answer is no one, which would rule out an on site accomplice

Roger isn't the only one yet to be convinced that OTB cheating is practical without an accomplice

[MartinCarpenter]

There is presumably the possibility of speaking to people who were at some of these events to find out who Niemann was travelling with

We suspect that the answer is no one, which would rule out an on site accomplice

Roger isn't the only one yet to be convinced that OTB cheating is practical without an accomplice

You either need an accomplice or someone putting a non trivial amount of resources to do the development/configuration effort etc. (several months at least you'd imagine.). Definitely not a 5 minute job! Hopefully its a bit of a red herring in some ways.

Even if you ignore FtF there is still of course the 'proven' online cheating & how that should relate to OTB chess. I think that alone gives Magnus at least rational grounds for what he did. Especially if he's been trying to get people to take the question of online cheating into FtF seriously for a while and not getting anywhere. (I have no idea.).

[Paul Cooksey]

Roger isn't the only one yet to be convinced that OTB cheating is practical without an accomplice

You either need an accomplice or someone putting a non trivial amount of resources to do the development/configuration effort etc.

I am a bit more cautious because there are some cases where someone was strongly suspected of cheating (D P Singh, Ivanov) but we are not sure they had an accomplice.

I am reluctant to talk about the detail of cheating. But in general terms, a tiny camera, OCR software, stockfish, and an electronic signal do seem enough to me. I think I could set that up in less time than I spend preparing openings for a 4NCL weekend and at similar cost to a chessable course. A bright teenager from the west country could do it, and maybe one has.

But without an accomplice, there would be physical evidence on me I am cheating. So a much, much high chance of detection, particularly at higher levels. I think sending the position is much harder to disguise than receiving a notification, so Roger's insistence live broadcast makes cheating easier does seem right to me.

I am sure Han's norm tournaments were being live broadcast. So I don't think the absence of an onsite accomplice entirely removes suspicion. Or indeed that a cheat would be above lying about such things. But on the whole, I think an increase in his playing strength is a more plausible explanation for his results, given the data we have seen.

[JustinHorton]

Magnus ne regrette rien

[Ian Thompson]

Roger isn't the only one yet to be convinced that OTB cheating is practical without an accomplice

If it's an event being played at a hotel with a large number of players, and the player is staying at the hotel, then going back to their hotel room to consult a computer is one way. Not every move, of course, but possible once or twice at critical points in the game. Also, not without risk of being caught, but probably fairly low risk if the arbiters aren't being vigilant.

[Roger de Coverly]

If it's an event being played at a hotel with a large number of players, and the player is staying at the hotel, then going back to their hotel room to consult a computer is one way. Not every move, of course, but possible once or twice at critical points in the game. Also, not without risk of being caught, but probably fairly low risk if the arbiters aren't being vigilant.

That's essentially a modification of the Rausis method. Another similar approach is where the player's family are present sitting in the lobby with phones and computers. But that's an accomplice in effect.

You shouldn't convict an OTB player purely on engine matching evidence, but correlation with absence from the board does increase the balance of probabilities,

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi All,

Regarding Hans living and travelling (assumed) alone. He is hardly going to mention or even drop a clue about someone else if that is the person is giving him outside help.
His OTB play is sound AFAIC. Not one shred of electrical evidence has been found. I've accepted he is a good chess player. One can have a spot of fun speculating about cheating but I'd stop worrying about it. (most of my corny gags are aimed at people people getting all in a tither over it.) Honestly if I was him I'd turn up with my pockets full of mobiles, bits or wire dangling from clothes and a picture of Magnus in a metal frame so the scanner would pick it up.

[Angus French]

Regarding Hans living and travelling (assumed) alone. He is hardly going to mention or even drop a clue about someone else if that is the person is giving him outside help.

He's been playing lots and travelling around for months. You don't think it would have been noticed if he was with someone else?

[NickFaulks]

Magnus ne regrette rien

I suspect that Carlsen has a character rather like that of Boris Johnson, incapable of regretting anything.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Angus,

I agree.
The point I was making is why he should he say who his travelling friends are and if he was cheating OTB would he name his assistant? It's reading like no one can prove he is cheating OTB so let's look for the person who is helping him not to cheat OTB . Everything he says, every move he makes is being minutely examined in a desperate attempt to prove he cheats OTB. IMO he does not.

Who is next to come under the magnifying glass? Has anybody tracked down the U.S official who ensured the U.S. Covid rules were followed so Richard Rapport could not come to the U.S. to play in the Sinquefield Cup so Hans would 'hopefully' be selected to take his place and cheat v Magnus Carlsen.

[Matt Bridgeman]

A Twitter link to 50 GM's banned off Chess.com;
https://twitter.com/GMHansNiemann/statu ... 97/photo/1

[Paul Cooksey]

Just to note that is not Han's twitter account.

But chess.com requiring people to create a new account after they confess is something lots of people have referred to as indicating the probability of a ban.

It is an area where I disagree with Rowson's scapegoat theory, since chess.com have always done something which encourages speculation about bans.

[Geoff Chandler]

I suspect that Carlsen has a character rather like that of Boris Johnson, incapable of regretting anything.

Hi Nick,
If Magnus plays again v Hans or even in the same tournament as Hans is that not admitting he was wrong. We will have to wait and see regarding that one.

[Roger de Coverly]

Just to note that is not Han's twitter account.

Is it a leak from someone in the know at chess.com? Ot just speculation based on the chess.com hitlist in their report and perhaps other sources.