Netflix Announces Documentary on Carlsen vs Niemann Scandal for 2025

The highly controversial Carlsen vs Niemann scandal is set to take center stage on Netflix in 2025, as the streaming giant announced plans for a documentary that will delve into the drama and aftermath of the episode that rocked the chess world in 2022.

Netflix, known for its popular series “The Queen’s Gambit” which helped spark a global interest in chess, teased the upcoming documentary on its X/Twitter account, labeling it as “the chess grandmaster cheating scandal.”

The news of the Netflix documentary comes on the heels of A24, Emma Stone’s production company, announcing a Hollywood dramatization of the scandal. The documentary is part of Netflix’s Untold project, which covers some of the most infamous stories in the sports world, including the Carlsen-Niemann scandal, the locker room gun incident involving Washington Wizards players, and the Liver King steroid scandal.

Details about the documentary are scarce, but it has been revealed that filming took place at the Speed Chess Championship Finals in Paris and the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Toronto. Chess.com’s CEO Erik Allebest and Chief Chess Officer IM Danny Rensch have both confirmed their participation in the documentary, hinting at major revelations to come.

The Carlsen-Niemann scandal erupted when Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating after their match at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, leading to a series of events that culminated in a lawsuit by Niemann against Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Play Magnus, and Chess.com. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed, and Niemann has since been allowed back on the platform.

The upcoming documentary is expected to reignite mainstream interest in chess and could potentially lead to another global chess boom. Will you be tuning in to watch the explosive revelations unfold?