“The next FIDE president should treat players with respect and lead with professionalism…” — Niemann on Wadim Rosenstein

Hans Moke Niemann

American GM

“I haven’t forgotten this entire saga or how the $4 million chess challenge ultimately collapsed.

The final sentence of the announcement of this event speaks for itself: ‘Elon musk we’ll be on the lookout for anyone using those sneaky Stockfish butt vibes! If things get noisy, don’t blame us!’

The next FIDE president should treat players with respect and lead with professionalism rather than resorting to cheap shots.

Chess has an unrivalled history and tradition, but preserving its legacy also means modernizing it. We should introduce rating decay to encourage active competition, bring the fragmented tours and world championship cycles under a more coherent structure, and democratize elite chess by ensuring that every major tournament includes open qualification pathways.

I hope my fellow top players will support whichever candidate is genuinely committed to these reforms. The future of our game depends on leadership that is willing to listen to the players and build a stronger, more unified chess ecosystem.”