Excitement in Chess World Over Anal Beads

An American grandmaster has denied using a vibrating sex toy to cheat.  In September 2022 Hans Niemann sat down to play Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in chess's Sinquefield Cup St Louis, Missouri.   Niemann won, but was accused by Carlsen of cheating - a claim which sparked a huge legal row between the pair.  The pair settled a $100m lawsuit last month.

On Monday evening, Niemann spoke to Piers Morgan about the scrutiny he has faced since being accused of cheating. "It is very disheartening to be accused of cheating after that victory," he said.   "These things happen and I managed to learn a lot during that time and it really has taught me a lot of very important lessons about life and chess." 

Niemann told Morgan he believed the last year has "strengthened his resolve" as he insisted to the host he did not cheat. Morgan then brought up claims that Niemann was getting signals from someone through the remote-controlled sex toy.  "To be clear, on the specific allegation - have you ever used anal beads while playing chess?" Morgan asked.

The 20-year-old replied: "Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know - maybe you're personally interested, but I can tell you, no. Categorically, no, of course not."

Online platform Chess.com was also sued by Niemann after an investigation by the firm claimed he had "likely" cheated in more than 100 games online.  Niemann admitted that he had cheated twice in online matches on Chess.com aged 12 and 16, but denied he had done so in the Sinquefield Cup or any in-person game-- saying he was even prepared to play naked to prove his innocence. He went on to accuse his detractors of trying to ruin his career.   "If they want me to strip fully naked, I will do it," said Niemann.  "I don't care, because I know I am clean. You want me to play in a closed box with zero electronic transmission, I don't care. I'm here to win and that is my goal regardless."

But there have been cases of players finding clandestine ways to cheat, including one who was caught with phones strapped to his leg and a micro earpiece telling him moves.  The current controversy over Niemann and anal beads is the biggest since 2006's "Toiletgate"-- when world championship challenger Veselin Topalov's team accused the champion Vladimir Kramnik of cheating during his "strange, if not suspicious" trips to the bathroom. A statistical analysis by Professor Kenneth Regan, widely regarded as the world's leading expert on cheating in chess, found no evidence Kramnik had cheated.