Chess player Hans Niemann showed extreme jubilation as his rival, Magnus Carlsen, was defeated and sent to the “Losers Bracket” at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas.
A Dramatic Day for Chess Commentary
Hans Niemann was on commentary duty when Magnus Carlsen faced off against Levon Aronian. As Carlsen neared a second tiebreak loss, Niemann’s excitement was palpable. He became the center of attention on the official stream, his animated reactions resembling a “human evaluation bar.”
Niemann clasped his hands, jumped from his seat, and cheered on Aronian, shouting moves at the screen. At one point, when Aronian seemed to falter, Niemann stood frozen, comparing the tension to watching a stock market collapse. His intensity in the commentary booth rivaled that of the players themselves.
The Carlsen-Niemann Rivalry Unpacked
Niemann’s strong reactions stem from a contentious history with Carlsen. In 2022, Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating after Niemann defeated him at the Sinquefield Cup. Carlsen even withdrew from that tournament following the loss.
While the cheating allegations were never proven, the controversy led Niemann to file a $100 million lawsuit against Carlsen, which was later settled out of court. Niemann claims these allegations severely impacted his career, leading to a significant drop in elite tournament invitations over three years.
Current Tournament Standings
Niemann secured his spot in the Las Vegas event by winning the qualification tournament. He chose to skip the Paris leg of the tour for undisclosed “personal reasons.”
In Las Vegas, Niemann has performed well in the Black Group, reaching the Upper Bracket for the eight-player quarter-finals despite losing his last two games. Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen has been relegated to the ‘Losers Bracket,’ where the highest he can now finish is third.
Niemann’s Unreserved Celebration
After Aronian secured his victory against Carlsen, Niemann was ecstatic. “There are very few pleasures in life that compare to this feeling,” he declared. In the commentary booth, he announced, “You know what they say, karma is a …. I don’t want to finish the sentence. Levon, I’m taking you to dinner tonight.”
Niemann then rushed to meet Aronian, jokingly offering him a “bonus” for the win. He later shared on the Chessbase India stream that he had intentionally lost his last two games to “give all my karma and energy to Levon” to ensure he wouldn’t face Carlsen in the next round.
Calling it an “amazing day” and “the best day of the three years,” Niemann reflected on the significance of Carlsen’s loss. When asked about his feelings regarding not playing Carlsen, he simply stated, “It’s not about how I feel. It’s about how he feels.”
- Hans Niemann was visibly thrilled during Magnus Carlsen’s loss to Levon Aronian, which sent Carlsen to the ‘Losers Bracket.’
- The intense reaction is rooted in a past controversy involving Carlsen’s unproven cheating allegations against Niemann in 2022.
- Niemann celebrated Carlsen’s defeat as a form of “karma,” declaring it one of the best days in three years for him.
The chess world watches on as the rival players navigate the tournament with vastly different fortunes.
