Magnus Carlsen stirred considerable controversy on Monday at the Julius Baer Generation Cup, the seventh stop on the USD 1.6 million Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, when he shockingly abandoned his match against American star Hans Niemann after only one move.
The world champion shockingly withdrew from a match for the second time in two weeks, ostensibly in protest at supposed cheating.
The chess community is anticipating Carlsen’s next move as he has not yet directly accused Niemann of anything. According to a statement from Meltwater Champions Chess Tour 2022, he gave Niemann three points by forfeiting his Round 6 game in the tournament.
The American teenager now trails Carlsen by two points after a difficult day at the board, during which he only gained one additional point, but is still in with a chance of moving on to the knockout rounds.
Arjun Erigaisi, a young Indian player, is in first place in the competition at the halfway point of the preliminary stage with 17 points out of a possible 24.
Carlsen and the 17-year-old Indian R. Praggnanandhaa sit two points behind Niemann, while the Polish World Cup champion Jan-Krzysztof Duda and the seasoned Ukrainian Vasyl Ivanchuk are tied for second place.
In the day’s last round, Carlsen and Pragg engaged in a dramatic struggle that finished in a draw, with the champion praising the youngster for his upbeat attitude.
The talk surrounding Carlsen and Niemann has taken center stage during the illustrious seventh leg of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. The two will no longer clash unless they both get to the knockout rounds, and even then they might choose to stay apart. If it occurs, the entire chess community will be watching intently.
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