Hans Moke Niemann shared his opinion on Ian Nepomniachtchi’s comment about Aaron Mendes on September 2. Nepo commented on the situation in an interview with The Times of India.

Nepo believes that Hans tries to play the victim. Nepo notes that he does not like Niemann’s personality.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

Ian Nepomniachtchi

Russia's No. 1

“First of all, Hans can’t stop playing the victim card. He pretty much lives in that skin. I think there was a fair reason, from his online performances through many years, as far as I know, to be cautious about Hans himself.

As for Hans right now, he proves himself as a very good and formidable player. I really like the way he plays chess, though I don’t like his personality. As a chess player, he plays quite well, and in certain openings, he’s quite good at.

Whenever he has an opportunity to bite anyone and seek for some reaction, he immediately does this. Maybe for him, it’s fine for his overall image.

Conor McGregor has ‘The Notorious’ nickname in MMA. Hans surely tries to be some notorious chess player. So that’s what he does.”

14-year-old IM Aaron Mendes defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi at the Titled Tuesday on September 1. Nepo commented on Aaron’s moves on his stream during the event. Nepo considered one of Aaron’s moves in the game suspicious.

Aaron Reeve Mendes is a Canadian chess prodigy. He became the youngest IM in Canadian history at 12 years old. Aaron’s Classical rating is 2340 and he is Canada’s No. 27.

Credit: Lennart Ootes