Magnus Carlsen Defeats Hans Niemann in Speed Chess Championship Semifinal

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious in a highly anticipated match against Hans Niemann at the 2024 Speed Chess Championship in Paris. This match marked their first encounter since a cheating scandal rocked the chess world in 2022.

Carlsen defeated Niemann with a score of 17.5-12.5 in a semifinal match that was marred by technical issues with the playing technology. The tournament, which is being held in front of a live audience for the first time, features players wearing noise-canceling headphones and listening to music as they compete on computers.

Despite an early lead by Carlsen in the blitz portion of the match, Niemann put up a fight in the subsequent rounds. However, Carlsen’s dominance in the bullet format secured his comfortable victory.

The rivalry between Carlsen and Niemann dates back to the cheating allegations made by Carlsen after Niemann’s victory over him in 2022. While investigations found no evidence of cheating in their over-the-board match, Niemann admitted to cheating in online games in the past.

Following his win, Carlsen expressed his eagerness to face Alireza Firouzja in the final, highlighting the motivation he feels when competing against top-level players. The upcoming final promises to be an exciting showdown between two chess prodigies.

Stay tuned for more updates on the 2024 Speed Chess Championship and the intense battles unfolding on the chessboard.