Invariably, I suspect that this trial will not prove anything. While I’m frustrated at the realization that Chess.com has a conflict of interest, I think halting Niemann’s career without proof of OTB cheating is absolutely foolish from the Carlsen camp. A far better solution is to tell Niemann he has been flagged, and his games will be watched for an extended time period with added scrutiny, he’ll need to explain why he made the moves accurately, etc etc. if after an extended period up against difficult opponents he proves he can’t function with the same fervor as he had against Carlsen, “let that speak for itself” as everybody seems to want to say wrt this case.
I don’t know if Carlsen is personally liable, but man, it seems pretty fucking foolish on his part to have said what he said.
>While I’m frustrated at the realization that Chess.com has a conflict of interest
There is no conflict of interest outside of keeping games fair. They are a platform that hosts chess matches. That's it. Banning an admitted cheater who admitting to cheating in order to make more money is not a conflict of interest at all - it's what would keep people from using their site.
>A far better solution is to tell Niemann he has been flagged
And that's happened. And Niemann STILL cheated. Did you see the letter the Chess.com folks sent Hans? Hans admitted to cheating, was banned, was allowed to come back, and cheated again. Chess.com was extremely lenient with Hans, and admitted as such.
>he’ll need to explain why he made the moves accurately
That's where the whole "the chess speaks for itself" thing came from....he was put on the spot in the post match interview against Carlsen. He couldn't explain why he made some of the moves he made and would fall back to "the chess speaks for itself" line. That's why people are suspicious of him.
I don’t know if Carlsen is personally liable, but man, it seems pretty fucking foolish on his part to have said what he said.