Chess-Carlsen and Niemann gearing up for explosive face-off

PARIS : Chess great Magnus Carlsen will play Hans Niemann at the Speed Chess Championship (SCC) final four in their first meeting since the former world champion hinted the then American teenager had cheated in an over-the-board game two years ago.

World number one Carlsen and Niemann will meet in Friday's semi-finals while France's Alireza Firouzja and world number two Hikaru Nakamura will play in the other last-four match, looking to qualify for Sunday's showdown at an e-sport arena in Paris.

The matches will be played online, but with all players present and sitting close to each other.

At the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, Niemann beat Carlsen with the black pieces and the Norwegian withdrew from the tournament, issuing a statement implying his opponent had cheated, which led the American to sue Carlsen and others for defamation before all parties resolved the matter.

Shortly after the controversy broke, Carlsen had resigned against Niemann after making only one move in an online tournament, effectively refusing to play.

Niemann filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Carlsen and Chess.com in October 2022 after the allegations that he had cheated.

A U.S. judge dismissed the lawsuit in June last year.

"This match is literally what people have been asking for for two years. This whole thing is what everybody wanted after the controversy including people who know nothing about chess," Danny Rensch, Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, said.

Niemann's progression since has been remarkable as the 21-year-old broke into the world's top 20 and qualified for the SCC finals.

"(My main feeling is) pure serenity. Very calm. I will enjoy every second," Niemann, who admitted to cheating online when he was 12 and 16," said. He has always