Chess boss in conversation
Anal ball scandal: “Nobody wants to touch it anymore”
A particularly bizarre scandal is currently overshadowing the chess world. The 19-year-old American Hans Niemann is alleged to have cheated at a chess tournament with five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen using anal beads. The consequences? Cheater Niemann "nobody wants to touch anymore", explains the President of the Austrian Chess Federation, Michael Stöttinger.
Although the investigation into this scandal is still ongoing, Stöttinger is nevertheless convinced that the American Hans Niemann "somehow gained an advantage" in the game at the Sinquefield Cup. The theory that he had received "Morse code" via anal beads may have originated on Twitter, but when a world champion like Magnus Carlsen makes such accusations as a "fair player", you would think that he is not doing so without good reason.
Anal ball scandal now followed by wiretapping scandal?
It is possible that "communication was intercepted", which could suggest that Niemann may have cheated. However, Carlsen would not be able to say this, as wiretapping conversations is also "not legal". The consequence of the scandal is that "nobody wants to touch Hans Niemann anymore". After all, anyone who books cheater Hans Niemann for a tournament "no longer needs to ask Carlsen". And he is, after all, the better player in the world.
"What can my Russian players do about the war?"
The President of the Austrian Chess Federation explains that the war in Ukraine also concerns the chess world. Russian players are not allowed to compete under their national flag. "We want to avoid pictures of a victorious player waving the Russian flag," says Michael Stöttinger. But: he himself has two young Russians in his team and asks himself: "What can the two players do about it?". Both professional chess players are now "impaired in their life plans" and have nevertheless received a call-up order. That's why they want to stay in Austria.
What chess professionals earn
Stöttinger is pleased with the chess trend that has broken out, especially during the Corona period. However, anyone who starts chess late in life has little chance of making it to the top. Those who make it to the top, however, can be happy: professionals can charge 25,000 to 50,000 euros per game and thus "live quite comfortably".
Watch the full interview with the President of the Austrian Chess Federation above.
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