American GM Hans Moke Niemann shared his opinion about Magnus Carlsen in an interview with Peter McCormack. Niemann states that Magnus gets everything he wants in chess, notes Carlsen’s collaboration with Chess.com, and talks about the closing ceremony situation at the Grenke Chess Festival 2026.

Hans Moke Niemann

Hans Moke Niemann

American GM

“I would say that in the chess world, Magnus is kind of babied. Whatever he wants — he gets.

A lot of the tournaments he plays, he decides the format. He has huge influence on who to invite. Since chess is such a hierarchical, egotistical game and he has all this influence and power, he develops sort of a god complex.

For example, there was this tournament two weeks ago organized by Freestyle Chess, a company he invests in and is the main brand ambassador for. And he got third place. And he was the only player not to show up to the prize ceremony… which is like spitting in the tournament’s face.

Imagine if, in a Formula 1 race, a driver got third place and just didn’t show up to the podium. It would be a scandal. This is obviously a tamer example, but in general — especially with his sort of new collaboration with Chess.com — they have unlimited monopolistic power. There aren’t really any limits on what they can get away with.”

The Grenke Chess Festival 2026 took place from April 2 to 6 in Karlsruhe, Germany. Magnus Carlsen finished third, losing by 0.5 point to French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and German GM Vincent Keymer. Magnus did not attend the tournament’s closing ceremony. All other prize winners came to the ceremony.

Credit: Harry Gielen