Super interesting article. Also sounds like Danny Rensch is running his mouth a little bit unwisely about this—I just don’t really buy into the hype that chess.com’s cheat detection software is somehow better than other independent analyses of human vs computer moves. I’ve also never really bought the far fetched theories about cheating using vibrating beads and so on.
With that said, Niemann still faces an uphill battle in his lawsuit. One wonders if there is a resolution here that involves an apology + private settlement or something along those lines. It’s clear he cheated online in the past, and he’s admitted that—when he truly was a kid. It’s also becoming clear that there is very little compelling evidence to suggest he cheated over the board at the Sinquefeld, and the conduct of Carlsen and chess.com afterward, though it may not be legally actionable in the end, has clearly—and maybe permanently— ruined his career.
And meanwhile, cheating in online chess continues to be a rampant problem that almost ruins the game for casual players. The worst part is it’s not even titled players with something to lose who are doing it, it’s internet randos with nothing to gain who for some reason insist on using stockfish rather than accepting that you’re just going to lose a game sometimes. I don’t understand it, but it’s a huge problem IMO.
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