Niemann challenges Carlsen and Nakamura for blitz chess match: 'If they are too afraid of the challenge...'

American grandmaster Hans Niemann has challenged World No 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen and fellow American GM Hikaru Nakamura to an over-the-board blitz chess match. Niemann also demanded a formal apology from Carlsen and Nakamura for all their “false accusations” of Niemann cheating, should they fail to take up the challenge.

Niemann demands formal apology if Carlsen, Nakamura fail to accept challenge

Niemann also claimed that he was willing to offer a prize money between “1 to 1 million USD”. “As the #1 Blitz Player on CHESSCOM. I challenge the #2 and #3 players to an OTB Blitz match to decide who the best player in the world is. I am willing to put up anywhere from 1 to 1 million USD. If they are too afraid of the challenge, I expect them to retract all false accusations and issue a formal apology,” Niemann posted on “X”, formerly called Twitter.

As the #1 Blitz Player on CHESSCOM. I challenge the #2 and #3 players to an OTB Blitz match to decide who the best player in the world is. I am willing to put up anywhere from 1 to 1 million USD. If they are too afraid of the challenge, I expect them to retract all false… pic.twitter.com/BkFylN0sUm

— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) January 8, 2025

In 2022, Carlsen had accused Niemann of cheating after the Norwegian lost to the then teenager at the Sinquefield Cup. He withdrew from that tournament after three rounds and in their next face-off, which was an online match, Carlsen withdrew from the match after just one move. Niemann was removed from the Chess.com website in the wake of the controversy. Nakamura, who has regularly been supportive of Carlsen, had also accused Niemann of cheating in 2022.

In the aftermath of this, Niemann filed a $100 million lawsuit against Carlsen, Nakamura and Chess.com, but in August 2023, all concerned parties settled the dispute via an out-of-court settlement, and Niemann was reinstated to Chess.com soon after.

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Niemann returns to streaming with strong message for Nakamura and Gotham Chess

The 21-year-old recently shared on social media that he was returning to streaming and aimed to become the No 1 streamer and the No 1 chess player.

He promised to put Nakamura and International Master Levy Rozman, also known as Gotham Chess, “in their place”. Rozman, like Nakamura, is also an ally of Carlsen. “I shall return to streaming tomorrow for the Fischer 960 Qualifier. It’s time to put my fellow content creators and professional comrades: Hikaru and Gotham Chess in their place. My goal for 2025 is to be the #1 streamer, then #1 Chess Player,” he said on “X”.

I shall return to streaming tomorrow for the Fischer 960 Qualifier. It's time to put my fellow content creators and professional comrades: Hikaru and Gotham Chess in their place. My goal for 2025 is to be the #1 streamer, then #1 Chess Player.

— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) January 7, 2025

Carlsen, who was embroiled in a jeans controversy during the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in December, clinched the blitz title after controversially sharing it with Ian Nepomniachtchi .