Grandmaster Hans Niemann Withdraws from Polygraph Test After Match Against Daniil Dubov

Grandmaster Hans Niemann has made headlines after withdrawing from a polygraph test following his loss against Grandmaster Daniil Dubov in a recent blitz match in Moscow, Russia. The match, which ended with a narrow victory for Dubov, was meant to settle a dispute that arose after Niemann won by forfeit in the 2024 World Blitz Championship when Dubov did not show up for their encounter.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Niemann cited Dubov’s “disrespectful” behavior as the reason for his decision to withdraw from the polygraph test. He accused Dubov of behaving like a child, disturbing him during the match, refusing to shake hands, and dismissing the event as a “clown show.”

Niemann expressed his frustration with the situation, stating, “It’s just mindboggling the level of disrespect from the chess world and chess players.” He also criticized Dubov’s demand for the test to be conducted in Dubai at his expense, calling it unreasonable.

While initially rejecting the polygraph test, Niemann later indicated that he may be open to the possibility of taking it in a neutral setting with fair options. Dubov, on the other hand, has not publicly commented on the accusations or responded to requests for a comment from Chess.com.

Despite the controversy surrounding the polygraph test, Niemann continues to focus on his chess career. He recently finished eighth in the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, climbing to world number 20 with a rating of 2736. Niemann has also issued a $100,000 challenge to Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, although Nepomniachtchi has not publicly responded to the invitation.

Niemann’s next event is the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris, where he was given a surprise wildcard entry last month. As the chess world awaits further developments in this ongoing saga, Niemann remains determined to prove himself on the board and rise through the ranks of the competitive chess scene.