Dubov’s feud with Hans Niemann

Just as chess fans were recuperating from the Magnus Carlsen-Jeans controversy, Daniil Dubov decided to forfeit his game against Hans Niemann in the 10th round of the World Blitz Championship. Dubov allegedly decided not to show up as a protest against Hans, who has been known to have cheated in online chess games in the past.

However, a very nonchalant Dubov told Levy Rozman (in his interview for Take, Take, Take) that he did not show up for the game because he fell asleep. “I have heard some things he said about me assumption – um – but maybe he fell asleep. I don’t know. I guess he has to confirm”, said Niemann as a reaction to the rumours. Hikaru Nakamura, very vehemently told GM Ludvig Hammer on his livestream that he strongly believed that Dubov most certainly didn’t fall asleep and that he forfeited the game as a “protest”.

Hans Niemann, who has been hyperactive on X lately was quick to respond to Dubov’s actions through the following posts:

Dubov had something to say about Hans’ posts, to which he responded in an Instagram post from his handle @blitzorddd! Dubov, in his blunt caption, accepted Hans’ offer and rather extended his own offer to play a 24-game blitz match for $48,000, but, only under the following conditions:

Hans will have to agree to a Lie Detector test featuring questions only about cheating, the results of which will be public! Dubov communicates if Niemann comes out clean, he will accept that his (Dubov) decision was “rash”.

There have been a lot of informal and indirect exchanges between the two since. WR Chess (Wadim Rosestein) even offered to help Hans arrange a 4-game match of 3+0 with $1M on the line!

Beyond his Instagram response, not much has been said publicly by Dubov and it only remains to be seen if we will see these two Super GMs butt heads in a Blitz Match for Pride and Principles!

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