Netflix Announces Carlsen-Niemann Documentary Set For 2025 Release

The controversial Carlsen vs. Niemann scandal is confirmed to appear on Netflix in 2025, the streaming giant has announced. The news is setting the stage for what could be an explosive documentary on the drama and aftermath of the episode that shook the chess world in 2022.

Netflix, which helped fuel a global chess boom with its hit series The Queen's Gambit, revealed the news on its X/Twitter account on Tuesday, referring to it as "the chess grandmaster cheating scandal." 

All-new films for UNTOLD are coming in 2025 — including the 2009 locker room gun incident between Washington Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton; the chess grandmaster cheating scandal; and the Liver King's steroid scandal. pic.twitter.com/TphR6lcAha

— Netflix (@netflix) September 9, 2024

The news about the Netflix documentary comes after Oscar-winning Emma Stone's production company A24 announced a Hollywood dramatization of the scandal, as Chess.com reported in May. Netflix's docu-series, however, is a part of the Untold project, which covers some of the sports world's most infamous stories. Alongside the Carlsen-Niemann episode, there will also be an episode of the notorious locker-room gun incident and the Liver King steroid scandal, according to Hollywood Reporter.

Few details about the docu-series have been disclosed, but we know filming took place at last week's Speed Chess Championship Finals in Paris, as well as at the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Toronto last year.

Chess.com's CEO Erik Allebest and Chief Chess Officer IM Danny Rensch have both confirmed that they took part in interviews for the documentary. Allebest hinted at major revelations in an episode of Ben Johnson's Perpetual Chess Podcast earlier this year.

"I‘m just gonna tell you I’m terrified, because they did a really good job getting Danny and me talking. I think a lot of things are going to be said in there that are going to be possibly a little surprising for the chess world to find out."

I‘m just gonna tell you I’m terrified because they did a really good job getting Danny Rensch and me talking. I think a lot of things are going to be said in there that are going to be possibly a little surprising for the chess world to find out.

—Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com.

Whether the other parties involved in the scandal have agreed to talk to the crew for the documentary remains to be seen, but we do know that Carlsen has decided to talk. The world number-one has largely refrained from speaking about the controversy but revealed after qualifying for the Speed Chess Championship Finals: "I've sort of said my piece on camera in a documentary that's coming at some point." 

The Carlsen-Niemann scandal caused a stir in the chess world when Carlsen, after losing to Niemann at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, withdrew from the tournament. He later suggested the U.S. teenager had cheated but did not provide evidence. Niemann has denied all allegations of cheating but admitted to cheating in casual online games as a teenager. Chess.com conducted its own investigation that concluded that he had likely cheated in hundreds of online games. No proof emerged linking him to cheating over the board.

The Niemann report led to a $100 million lawsuit by Niemann against Carlsen, GM Hikaru Nakamura, Play Magnus, and Chess.com. A U.S. judge eventually dismissed the lawsuit, and the legal dispute was concluded last year. The rising star has since been allowed on the platform and recently took part in the SCC Finals in Paris last week.

Whether the documentary will contribute to another global chess boom remains to be seen, but it is bound to reignite mainstream interest in chess. Will you watch?