The chess riot surrounding Hans Niemann is still not over. The 19-year-old American, who, according to research by chess website chess.com, is said to have cheated in more than 100 online games, is now hitting back and demanding a total of 400 million dollars (more than 408 million euros) in damages.

Niemann announced via social media that he would initiate a defamation lawsuit against five of those involved, including world champion Magnus Carlsen. Niemann is demanding $100 million from the Norwegian.

As a reaction after his games, Niemann often sticks to one sentence in the analysis: “My chess game speaks for itself.” Characteristically, the American announced the charges against Carlsen on his Twitter account. “My lawsuit speaks for itself.”

Before this turmoil in the chess world begins, we have to go back a month and a half. During the prestigious St. Louis Sinquefield Cup, Carlsen suffers a very rare loss. He loses with the white stones against Niemann, who is significantly lower in the ranking.

Carlsen then decides to withdraw from the tournament. It was only a week later that the Norwegian clarified on Twitter: “I’m frustrated. Cheating is serious business and a threat to the survival of the game.”

Niemann admits after the Sinquefield Cup that he cheated in online matches as a 12- and 16-year-old, but says so now too clean is. Still, Carlsen has his reservations. “I think Niemann cheated more often and more recently than he publicly admitted.”

This statement was backed up by a chess.com investigation on Oct. 5. “We determined that Hans was likely to have cheated, including in several cash prize events,” the statement said. According to the chess website, Niemann has received illegal help in more than a hundred online games, most recently in 2020.

legal action

Niemann is largely on the level. Until Thursday, when he files suits in a Missouri court against Magnus Carlsen, his company Play Magnus Group, chess.com, chess.com’s Danny Rensch and finally chess streamer and one of the world’s greatest grandmasters, Hikaru Nakamura.

The latter is accused by the Niemann camp of adding fuel to the fire on its popular streams. Chess.com is accused, among other things, of having made confidential discussions public.

Niemann’s attorneys have now filed five lawsuits, including defamation, defamation and conspiracy. If you add up the claims for damages from all these claims, you arrive at a sum of at least 400 million euros.