Carlsen's bitter rival throws him a $1 million challenge or demands apology
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American GM Hans Niemann, Magnus Carlsen's harshest critic, has launched a million-dollar challenge to the World No. 1. Niemann challenged Carlsen and fellow American GM Hikaru Nakamura after edging the two to emerge as the highest-rated player on Chessdotcom, the largest online chess platform.
At the time of writing, Niemann had a blitz rating of 3263 on the popular app, ahead of Nakamura (3257) and Carlsen (3256). It is important to understand that the ratings on the app are different from the ratings given by FIDE, the world chess body. As per the FIDE rating, Carlsen (2831) has remained World No. 1 since 2011. Niemann is ranked 18th in the world (2734).
"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, also called Twitter.
There has been bad blood between the two since 2022 when Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating in an online tournament. Carlsen has not reversed his position. Their meetings in tournaments have been feisty affairs ever since. The most recent clash came in the quarterfinals of the World Blitz Championship in New York, which Carlsen won 2.5-1.5. Carlsen appeared shaky at first as he went behind after losing the second game. But the World No. 1 regained his composure and won the next two games to seal victory. He then did something stunning. Just after Niemann had stepped away, Carlsen took his King and stomped it in the centre of the board as if marking his territory.
Niemann was furious, too, afterwards, as he criticised FIDE for bending to Carlsen's wishes to share first place with Ian Nepomniachtchi. Carlsen has yet to respond to the challenge; he usually ignores Niemann's online outbursts. Moreover, he's on a honeymoon celebrating his wedding with Ella Malone.