Where the LOGIC behind any of this?
You don't see the logic.
There are countless threads on reddit, youtube and elsewhere that question the ban timing.
chess.com could have banned Hans permanently long before, since they seemingly know "a lot" about his online cheating activities.
They banned him after some (a few, really) big actors on this site supported directly or indirectly the OTB cheating accusations (most top GMs didn't) through passionate videos .
Then, following numerous reactions to the ban, chess.com had to give some brief explanations (that look more like excuses to me).
As of today, still no evidence of any OTB cheating. Many GMs analyzed Hans games at the STL tournament and did not find any evidence of a comp-move.
The chess.com ban sounds more like a hasty move to please some high-level members.
On the other hand, the young Hans Niemann had to cope with the added stress of these OTB cheating accusations enhanced by the chess.com ban, while still playing the tournament.
chess.com should have stayed out of this until at least after the tournament, or if some OTB cheating evidence had come to light.
So, yes, I'm cancelling my chess.com paid membership.
I thought the ban was prompted by Niemann giving a misleading account of his cheating hence this was alluded to in Chess.com's email to him.
Where the LOGIC behind any of this?
You don't see the logic.
There are countless threads on reddit, youtube and elsewhere that question the ban timing.
chess.com could have banned Hans permanently long before, since they seemingly know "a lot" about his online cheating activities.
They banned him after some (a few, really) big actors on this site supported directly or indirectly the OTB cheating accusations (most top GMs didn't) through passionate videos .
Then, following numerous reactions to the ban, chess.com had to give some brief explanations (that look more like excuses to me).
As of today, still no evidence of any OTB cheating. Many GMs analyzed Hans games at the STL tournament and did not find any evidence of a comp-move.
The chess.com ban sounds more like a hasty move to please some high-level members.
On the other hand, the young Hans Niemann had to cope with the added stress of these OTB cheating accusations enhanced by the chess.com ban, while still playing the tournament.
chess.com should have stayed out of this until at least after the tournament, or if some OTB cheating evidence had come to light.
So, yes, I'm cancelling my chess.com paid membership.