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Two years ago, the chess world was rocked by a major scandal involving American grandmaster Hans Niemann and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Niemann's victory over Carlsen in the Sinquefield Cup sparked accusations of cheating, which Niemann denied. Despite the lack of evidence, the controversy has continued to follow Niemann.In the wake of the scandal, Niemann has launched a series of one-on-one matches against fellow grandmasters, titled "Hans Niemann Against The World." Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi, who faced Niemann in one of these matches, believes that Niemann's actions are beneficial for chess."I think what Hans is doing is good for chess," Gujrathi said. "Every sport has special characters who bring money and attention to the game and evoke strong emotions in people."Niemann has expressed a desire for an apology from Carlsen, but has also stated that his "vengeance will be victory on the board." He is scheduled to face Carlsen in the semifinals of the Speed Chess Championship in Paris on September 6.Former world No. 2 Levon Aronian, who played in the controversial 2022 Sinquefield Cup, believes that Niemann is a talented player but has reservations about his actions."I think Hans is a talented player who can reach the heights in chess," Aronian said. "But I can't say I support him. In a way, he's using this whole story perhaps to his advantage."The controversy has also sparked a conversation about cheating in chess. Aronian and Gujrathi agree that more stringent anti-cheating measures are needed."Anti-cheating measures have to be more stringent," Gujrathi said. "When you allow spectators, there has to be a delay in broadcast. They shouldn't be able to see the live position when they come in."Despite the challenges he faces, Niemann remains determined to become a top player."He has everyone rooting against him," Gujrathi said. "But that doesn't stop him. If anything, it fuels him."

Former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik has sparked controversy with his latest accusations of cheating in online chess. Kramnik, who previously raised suspicions about Hikaru Nakamura's winning streak, has now suggested that Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin's online blitz results against the world's top ten players this year are "mathematically 99.9999% impossible."Kramnik's allegations have been met with skepticism and criticism from the chess community. Nihal's manager, Priyadarshan Banjan, has challenged Kramnik to a face-to-face playoff against Nihal, while others have questioned Kramnik's statistical analysis.Kramnik's concerns about cheating in online chess are legitimate, but his public accusations have been criticized for being unsubstantiated and damaging to the reputation of players. Chess.com, one of the leading online chess platforms, has closed Kramnik's blog and muted his account after investigating his allegations and finding them baseless.The recent wave of paranoia over cheating in chess has been fueled by high-profile accusations from top players such as Magnus Carlsen and Kramnik. However, experts argue that mass public accusations and blackballing are not effective ways to address the issue.Kramnik's accusations have also raised questions about the role of statistics in detecting cheating. While statistical analysis can be a useful tool, it is important to interpret the results carefully and avoid making unfounded conclusions.The issue of cheating in chess is complex and requires a nuanced approach. While it is important to maintain the integrity of the game, it is equally important to avoid unsubstantiated accusations that can damage the reputations of players and undermine the sport's credibility.