Your network blocks the Lichess assets!

lichess.org
Donate

Don't think I've ever experienced the cognitive dissonance that I go through regarding Hans Niemann.

I just finished watching "Chess Mates" on Netflix, and I remain as conflicted as I have been for the last four years regarding Hans.

On one hand, part of me genuinely feels for him with what he went through. I like Magnus, but I've never agreed with the way he handled the 2022 Sinquefield Cup. When you withdraw from a tournament, all of the games that you already played are nullified, which significantly affects the integrity of the tournament. So doing something that affects the integrity of the tournament as some type of protest against someone you merely SUSPECT of doing so has always been incredibly counterintuitive and hypocritical to me.

I've always hated how a potential tongue-in-cheek comment in a chess streamer's chat could take on a life of its own with the whole anal beads nonsense. I can't imagine being a teenager and the entire world sees you get asked about vibrating anal beads on television. I've never thought it was funny and thought the perpetuation of it was really cruel. While he definitely made a bunch of mistakes that ultimately led to this situation, I still considered him a victim and genuinely empathized.

With that being said, man, that kid really makes it hard to root for him. I've never been so conflicted about a person in my life. One second I'm genuinely feeling for him, and the next I'm literally thinking how big of a d*uchebag he is.

I genuinely wish I could know for certain how much of what he says he actually believes. Like, there is no way that he thought all these people seriously conspired against him to try and ruin his life because he beat Magnus and ran his mouth afterward? And while I absolutely feel for him that he's so infamous, I'm so tired of him saying over and over that they ruined his career. How is his career ruined? He's now one of the biggest names in chess.

Even as I'm writing this, the cognitive dissonance is still transpiring. I've never felt bad for someone while at the same time cringing every time they open their mouths.

Anyone else feel this way?

I just finished watching "Chess Mates" on Netflix, and I remain as conflicted as I have been for the last four years regarding Hans. On one hand, part of me genuinely feels for him with what he went through. I like Magnus, but I've never agreed with the way he handled the 2022 Sinquefield Cup. When you withdraw from a tournament, all of the games that you already played are nullified, which significantly affects the integrity of the tournament. So doing something that affects the integrity of the tournament as some type of protest against someone you merely SUSPECT of doing so has always been incredibly counterintuitive and hypocritical to me. I've always hated how a potential tongue-in-cheek comment in a chess streamer's chat could take on a life of its own with the whole anal beads nonsense. I can't imagine being a teenager and the entire world sees you get asked about vibrating anal beads on television. I've never thought it was funny and thought the perpetuation of it was really cruel. While he definitely made a bunch of mistakes that ultimately led to this situation, I still considered him a victim and genuinely empathized. With that being said, man, that kid really makes it hard to root for him. I've never been so conflicted about a person in my life. One second I'm genuinely feeling for him, and the next I'm literally thinking how big of a d*uchebag he is. I genuinely wish I could know for certain how much of what he says he actually believes. Like, there is no way that he thought all these people seriously conspired against him to try and ruin his life because he beat Magnus and ran his mouth afterward? And while I absolutely feel for him that he's so infamous, I'm so tired of him saying over and over that they ruined his career. How is his career ruined? He's now one of the biggest names in chess. Even as I'm writing this, the cognitive dissonance is still transpiring. I've never felt bad for someone while at the same time cringing every time they open their mouths. Anyone else feel this way?

Fischer withdrew from the Sousse interzonal tournament while leading.
Carlsen withdrew from the World Rapid Championship over his insistence on wearing jeans.

Fischer withdrew from the Sousse interzonal tournament while leading. Carlsen withdrew from the World Rapid Championship over his insistence on wearing jeans.

@Jackypaper824 said ^

I like Magnus

Why?

While he definitely made a bunch of mistakes that ultimately led to this situation

He made zero mistakes that led to 'this situation'.

With that being said, man, that kid really makes it hard to root for him. I've never been so conflicted about a person in my life. One second I'm genuinely feeling for him, and the next I'm literally thinking how big of a d*uchebag he is.

Why? Not very productive to allege that someone is a 'douchebag' without bothering to explain why.

I genuinely wish I could know for certain how much of what he says he actually believes. Like, there is no way that he thought all these people seriously conspired against him to try and ruin his life because he beat Magnus and ran his mouth afterward?

Why do you not believe it?

And while I absolutely feel for him that he's so infamous, I'm so tired of him saying over and over that they ruined his career. How is his career ruined? He's now one of the biggest names in chess.

He was blacklisted for years. No invites. Mass bullying and sexual harassment. He has worked diligently and has become one of the top players while undergoing an ordeal.

Even as I'm writing this, the cognitive dissonance is still transpiring. I've never felt bad for someone while at the same time cringing every time they open their mouths.

Why do you cringe 'every time he opens his mouth'?

@Jackypaper824 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/audrVzb8) >I like Magnus Why? >While he definitely made a bunch of mistakes that ultimately led to this situation He made zero mistakes that led to 'this situation'. > > With that being said, man, that kid really makes it hard to root for him. I've never been so conflicted about a person in my life. One second I'm genuinely feeling for him, and the next I'm literally thinking how big of a d*uchebag he is. Why? Not very productive to allege that someone is a 'douchebag' without bothering to explain why. > I genuinely wish I could know for certain how much of what he says he actually believes. Like, there is no way that he thought all these people seriously conspired against him to try and ruin his life because he beat Magnus and ran his mouth afterward? Why do you not believe it? >And while I absolutely feel for him that he's so infamous, I'm so tired of him saying over and over that they ruined his career. How is his career ruined? He's now one of the biggest names in chess. He was blacklisted for years. No invites. Mass bullying and sexual harassment. He has worked diligently and has become one of the top players while undergoing an ordeal. > Even as I'm writing this, the cognitive dissonance is still transpiring. I've never felt bad for someone while at the same time cringing every time they open their mouths. Why do you cringe 'every time he opens his mouth'?

I've not watched the documentary as I felt it would not reveal anything new.
Did Niemann cheat? Only he knows the answer. He's clearly a 2700+ player based on his performance since in multiple formats OTB and online.
Was his career ruined? Probably, he lost a critical period of a young chessplayer's life when invitations were scarce and had to deal with all the negative publicity. Look at the guy now, he's practically balding from all the stress.
Is he likeable? No, but that's not a necessity for sportspersons who are usually single mindedly devoted to their profession. I don't feel Magnus or Hikaru are likeable either.

I've not watched the documentary as I felt it would not reveal anything new. Did Niemann cheat? Only he knows the answer. He's clearly a 2700+ player based on his performance since in multiple formats OTB and online. Was his career ruined? Probably, he lost a critical period of a young chessplayer's life when invitations were scarce and had to deal with all the negative publicity. Look at the guy now, he's practically balding from all the stress. Is he likeable? No, but that's not a necessity for sportspersons who are usually single mindedly devoted to their profession. I don't feel Magnus or Hikaru are likeable either.

“Did Niemann cheat?”

He admitted to doing so in online chess. In Sinquefield though, the verdict is grey.

“Did Niemann cheat?” He admitted to doing so in online chess. In Sinquefield though, the verdict is grey.

@IamNOTamod said ^

“Did Niemann cheat?”

He admitted to doing so in online chess. In Sinquefield though, the verdict is grey.

Grey? That implies that there is doubt.

There is zero evidence for cheating at Sinquefield

@IamNOTamod said [^](/forum/redirect/post/EMcBdTBB) > “Did Niemann cheat?” > > He admitted to doing so in online chess. In Sinquefield though, the verdict is grey. Grey? That implies that there is doubt. There is zero evidence for cheating at Sinquefield

@lizani said ^

I don't feel Magnus or Hikaru are likeable either.

There is a difference, though. Magnus Carlsen or Hikaru Nakamura are polarizing; they can be annoying and many people do dislike or even hate them but on the other hand they also have certain charisma that makes others like them. Hans Niemann does not have that and while there are people able to like him - or even love him uncritically (as this topic shows) - they are fewer and I suspect it's rather because they feel sorry for him.

@lizani said [^](/forum/redirect/post/cM8byJk8) > I don't feel Magnus or Hikaru are likeable either. There is a difference, though. Magnus Carlsen or Hikaru Nakamura are polarizing; they can be annoying and many people do dislike or even hate them but on the other hand they also have certain charisma that makes others like them. Hans Niemann does not have that and while there are people able to like him - or even love him uncritically (as this topic shows) - they are fewer and I suspect it's rather because they feel sorry for him.

The chess speaks for itself.

The chess speaks for itself.

@mkubecek said ^

I don't feel Magnus or Hikaru are likeable either.

There is a difference, though. Magnus Carlsen or Hikaru Nakamura are polarizing; they can be annoying and many people do dislike or even hate them but on the other hand they also have certain charisma that makes others like them.

Maybe. But having a corporation doing full time PR for you also helps.

Hans Niemann does not have that and while there are people able to like him - or even love him uncritically (as this topic shows) - they are fewer and I suspect it's rather because they feel sorry for him.

Hans Niemann has charisma in my opinion. He speaks out against bad things like gambling and corporations trying to strongarm the chess word.

@mkubecek said [^](/forum/redirect/post/o9fOxr2Y) > > I don't feel Magnus or Hikaru are likeable either. > > There is a difference, though. Magnus Carlsen or Hikaru Nakamura are polarizing; they can be annoying and many people do dislike or even hate them but on the other hand they also have certain charisma that makes others like them. Maybe. But having a corporation doing full time PR for you also helps. >Hans Niemann does not have that and while there are people able to like him - or even love him uncritically (as this topic shows) - they are fewer and I suspect it's rather because they feel sorry for him. Hans Niemann has charisma in my opinion. He speaks out against bad things like gambling and corporations trying to strongarm the chess word.

@tpr said ^

The chess speaks for itself.

It does... And while Hans Niemann is certainly one of elite players, insisting that it's only matter of time before he becomes a world champion is one of the things that make people dislike him.

@RuyLopez1000 said ^

Hans Niemann has charisma in my opinion. He speaks out against bad things like gambling and corporations trying to strongarm the chess word.

That has nothing to do with charisma. Charisma is what makes people like someone on emotional level. What you mention in the second sentence may make (some) people like him on rational level. Unfortunately he also does and says a lot of things that make other people dislike him for rational reasons.

@tpr said [^](/forum/redirect/post/bqGAcIjo) > The chess speaks for itself. It does... And while Hans Niemann is certainly one of elite players, insisting that it's only matter of time before he becomes a world champion is one of the things that make people dislike him. @RuyLopez1000 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/bCCQ33ew) > Hans Niemann has charisma in my opinion. He speaks out against bad things like gambling and corporations trying to strongarm the chess word. That has nothing to do with charisma. Charisma is what makes people like someone on emotional level. What you mention in the second sentence may make (some) people like him on rational level. Unfortunately he also does and says a lot of things that make other people dislike him for rational reasons.