Latest news with #WorldRapidandBlitzChampionship
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
FIDE chief Arkady Dvorkovich on Magnus Carlsen's fist thump: ‘It was extreme emotion… but emotions make any sport more exciting'
When a frustrated Magnus Carlsen slammed his fist on the table after a blunder against world champion Gukesh Dommaraju during a match at Norway Chess, the sound was heard across the world. While many in the chess fraternity were a little taken aback by that display of emotion, that moment has prompted plenty of people who would otherwise not follow the sport to track the drama keenly. Now FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich has said that what Carlsen did was 'a bit unusual' but 'not disrespectful'. 'I saw a video that showed that Gukesh had also done the same (once). The reaction (from Carlsen) was a bit unusual, yes. It was like extreme emotion. But, people like emotions. Emotions make sport more exciting sometimes,' Dvorkovich told Indian media in Stavanger on Wednesday. OH MY GOD 😳🤯😲 — Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 1, 2025 'Of course, everyone should keep himself respectful. I would not call what Magnus did disrespectful. It was emotional as he was really disappointed. Gukesh fought back in a very tough game. But at the end, Magnus appreciated that Gukesh was really fighting for that (win).' Dvorkovich-led FIDE and Carlsen have recently clashed a few times, especially when the world no.1 was threatened with a forfeiture for wearing jeans at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship. In response, Carlsen quit the tournament and butted antlers with the top brass of chess' world governing body. He was later coaxed back to play the World Blitz Championship, the title which he subsequently opted to share with Ian Nepomniachtchi. FIDE then objected to the Freestyle Grand Slam chess tour events, organised by people backed by the Norwegian. In Stavanger, when Dvorkovich was asked whether he thought Carlsen banging his fist on the table would draw in newer audiences to the sport, he said: 'You can always say that in any sport, any scandal creates more excitement. And this was not a big scandal, happily, it was just a short moment.' 'Major channels start following those things, like it was once with the (Hans Niemann) cheating scandal, Jeansgate or whatever. Magnus is a top player, so when he is involved in something like that, of course everyone pays attention. But I have great respect for Magnus and I would not blame him for those things.' Dvorkovich felt that in cases where a player acts out physically during a game, an arbiter should give a soft warning. But 'if there are no complaints (from the other player), it doesn't go anywhere.' Right after the fist thump incident, Carlsen had spoken out about how this year's Norway Chess could be the last classical event he plays. When asked about Carlsen quitting classical chess, Dvorkovich said: 'That would be unfortunate, but I hope that he'll come back to some classical events or some mixed events. Magnus is the best player, but not the only strong player in the world. He's in his mid-thirties already, so it's good that he's doing other things as well.' Amit Kamath is Assistant Editor at The Indian Express and is based in Mumbai. ... Read More
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Polygraph finished, passed on all fronts': Hans Niemann claims ‘lie-detector' test failed to prove over-the-board cheating
American Grandmaster Hans Niemann claimed on Wednesday that he has undergone a lie detector 'Polygraph' test, as challenged by Russian GM Daniil Dubov and 'passed it on all fronts' as the test failed to prove any over-the-board (OTB) cheating done by him. Announcing on X, he wrote, 'Polygraph finished, passed on all fronts. Have you ever cheated over the board? No Verdict: True. I think it's time for a rematch with Dubov. I'll be in Moscow again in 2 weeks!' Polygraph finished, passed on all fronts. Have you ever cheated over the board? No Verdict: True. I think it's time for a rematch with Dubov. I'll be in Moscow again in 2 weeks! — Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) May 7, 2025 Niemann also called for a rematch against Dubov and said 'chess always speaks for itself.' In another post, he wrote, 'Mental gymnastics of my detractors: 'You refused the polygraph that proves everything' Then switching to 'polygraphs are pseudoscience this proves nothing'. Some people will always twist everything to fit their perspective. The only constant is that the chess always speaks for itself.' Niemann was supposed to undergo a lie-detecting polygraph test after losing an 18-game blitz match against Dubov. Niemann had challenged Dubov to a showdown in Russia to settle their World Rapid and Blitz dispute, with the condition that the loser had to answer one question with a polygraph test. In March, Niemann faced Dubov and lost the 18-game challenge by a margin of 8.5-9.5, resulting in him facing the polygraph test. This came after Dubov's 'no show' at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship against Niemann, citing that he fell asleep. Following the incident, Niemann extended an open challenge to Dubov. 'Happy to play Dubov in a blitz match under ANY conditions. I will pay for his travel/accommodation and offer a $10,000 reward to a charity of his choice if he wins,' Niemann had posted on X. Dubov accepted the challenge after Niemann's quarterfinal loss to Norway's Magnus Carlsen but with specific conditions. In an Instagram post, Dubov proposed a lie detector test for Niemann. 'I'm ready to play, under the following conditions: You agree to a lie detector test with a trained professional… Test to feature only questions about cheating, with the results to be communicated to the community at large. If the test comes out clean, I will admit my decision was rash and play a 24-game blitz match against you, 8 games a day, $2,000 per point,' Dubov wrote. Later, Magnus Carlsen added fuel to the controversy by suggesting that Dubov's absence may have been deliberate to 'prove a point.' That came amid lingering tensions after Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating in 2022. Although Carlsen later retracted his claims following a $100 million defamation lawsuit from Niemann.
