FIDE shares Carlsen's concerns about the damage of cheating in chess
The Hindu
FIDE said it was its duty to protect the integrity of chess given recent events involving Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has rebuked world champion Magnus Carlsen for abruptly conceding an online game against Hans Niemann while adding it shared the Norwegian's concerns surrounding cheating in the sport.
Carlsen resigned after just one move against American Niemann, who lags almost 200 Elo points behind him, at the Julius Baer Generation Cup this week, just days after he left an over-the-board tournament following a loss to the same opponent.
The surprise defeat and Carlsen's subsequent withdrawal from the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis sparked a furore of comments and allegations that the 19-year-old Niemann had cheated, including from American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura.
It was Carlsen's first defeat with white pieces in a classical game since he lost to Levon Aronian in October 2020. Niemann has denied any wrongdoing.
FIDE said it was its duty to protect the integrity of chess given recent events involving the two players.
"We strongly believe that the World Champion has a moral responsibility attached to his status, since he is viewed as a global ambassador of the game," the governing body said in a statement on Friday.
"We strongly believe that there were better ways to handle this situation."