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Chess: latest round of Hans Niemann saga expected in St Louis on Wednesday

Hans Niemann will be tested by three of the top 10 grandmasters next week when the 19-year-old, who the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, has publicly declared to be a cheat, takes on the American elite in the $250,000 US championship at St Louis, which has its first round (of 13) on Wednesday.

Niemann will be returning to the the “capital of chess” where a few weeks ago he shocked Carlsen by defeating the Norwegian in the third round of the Sinquefield Cup.

The manner and circumstances of that result, an exceptionally rare loss for Carlsen with the favourable white pieces against a much lower rated opponent – ending the Norwegian’s run of 53 games without defeat, has come under close scrutiny after the world champion singled it out in his statement on Monday night.

“Throughout our game I had the impression that he wasn’t tense or even fully concentrating on the game in critical positions, while outplaying me as black in a way I think only a handful of players can do,” said Carlsen. “This game contributed to me changing my perspective.”

Carlsen’s assessment is contrary to the general view of commentators on the game that there were errors and inaccuracies on both sides, with Niemann missing clearer routes to victory and Carlsen overlooking several chances to draw or make the win difficult. Russia’s Alexander Grischuk summed it up succinctly: “Their game wasn’t suspicious. Niemann played average and Carlsen played poorly.”

It is also possible to play against a world champion without tension, as evidenced by the reaction of Jonathan Penrose during his famous 1960 victory over Mikhail Tal, where he described the experience as feeling like an Essex v Middlesex county match.

One of the spectators as the game and players were

Read more on theguardian.com