Chess: Niemann faces credibility test in St Louis as cheating saga continues

Hans Niemann, the 19-year-old who has confessed to cheating in online games but denies any illegalities over the board, faces a crucial credibility test at St Louis on his US Championship debut.

The organisers have beefed up security, with spectators barred, a new metal detector to frisk players and a 30-minute delay before the games are displayed to online viewers. Live online coverage now starts at 7.30pm.

Niemann is the sixth seed on current ranking in a field of 14, behind the five grandmasters who represented the US in the recent 180-nation Olympiad, but ahead of experienced GMs and other rising talents. The impact of his success or failure on his championship debut will be greatly magnified due to the allegations against him.

A top-three outcome will be a huge boost to his status, given the backdrop and the strong anti-cheating security. Finishing above some or all of the Olympiad team will be a major success, around a 50% total will be normal, anything worse will immediately spark new jibes.

Round one on Wednesday went well for Niemann. His fellow debutant, Christopher Yoo, the youngest in the field at age 15, played too passively early on with White, then fought back.

The late stages of the game had two critical moments. Instead of 31 Re2? as played, Yoo could have completely equalised by 31 Nxd5! Five moves later, when 36 Bxe4 would still have given White good chances for a draw, Yoo blundered fatally by 36 e6?? no ticing too late that his intended follow-up of Bxe6 37 gxf5 Qxf5 38 Nxf5+ Qxf5 39 Bg4? forking queen and rook would fail to Rdh8! 40 Bxf5 Rh1 mate.

In his truncated post-game interview, Niemann said: “It was such a beautiful game that I don’t even need to describe it.” This hyperbole may add fuel to