Niemann’s Polygraph U-Turn: From Rejection to Kramnik’s Aid

Following the blitz match between Hans Niemann and Daniil Dubov, chess fans have been curious about the Lie Detector Test that the loser of the match was obliged to take. Before going head-to-head in 18 games of blitz chess, the two Super GMs agreed to the terms, which included answering one question of the winner under a polygraph, apart from the prize and pride at stake. Niemann, having lost the match by a hair, will now be taking the test with the help of his coach, Vladimir Kramnik!

The REJECTION

“I have no intention of giving someone like Dubov, who behaved honestly like a child; the honor of asking me a question, lie detector which is pure pseudo science when I have honestly nothing to prove,” said Hans in his YouTube video he posted after the match. The video came after Dubov, in a Russian interview, announced that his lie detector test question to Hans would be regarding over-the-board cheating in a given period of time (last 5 years).

After being called out on the hypocrisy, Niemann elaborated on the reasons he rejected the polygraph through the following social media post:

Right after this post, Niemann confirmed that his coach, Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik, is assisting the American in scheduling the lie detector test in question. Having said that he is not going to acknowledge any over-the-board accusations, will Hans Niemann entertain Dubov’s question in the lie detector test? Moreover, would the American come out clean and crush all the withstanding suspicions?

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