Niemann Comeuppance

Nice to see Niemann get destroyed by both Magnus and Hikaru, especially after the Levy pre-match interview.

That guy is SO dislikeable.

We probably haven't heard the last of Mr Niemann.

He could be McEnroe of chess... if he was a better player

Hans Niemann lost to the #1 and #2 chess players in the world at the SCC finals in Paris... and finished fourth in the 2024 SCC tournament overall. This weekend's two defeats might be tough for him to take, and it probably pleased a lot of his detractors, but it isn't the end of the world. It's progress. He's a young man, 21 years old... time is on his side if he works hard and keeps improving.

It might be more beneficial to his career if he stops going to war with all and sundry and lets his chess do the talking. But I'm sure GM Hans will be back.

chess spoke for itself. Maybe next time he'll intervene.

I don't question his chess ability. My point was that he is intensely dislikeable even at first sight.

The comparison to McEnroe is valid. McEnroe's tennis was above reproach but he was always such a vile 'spoiled brat', I always wanted him to lose. So it is with Niemann.

Hello

Let's forget about the pre-games trash talking. Let's forget about the Levy interview. Then there's still his incredibly awkward performance as commentator where he seemed to talk a lot about himself. As a commentator on the final games of the speed chess championship.

That could have been an easy, almost zero effort way to get in touch with the general chess audience, but no, of course he didn't do that. At some point it's his own fault if people don't like him.

Putting aside the fact that he makes me feel ill to look at him, his commentator skills and insight that he provided are nothing short of pathetic. Levy is (only) a 2350 IM but was leagues ahead.

If Niemann was giving simul at my local chess club, I would probably give it a miss.

That implies that Magnus played at the same level vs Hans as he did Alireza - I think that's obviously not true. If you want to argue with scores - then Alireza did much better against the guy who proceeded to moke the floor with Hans...