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A teenage chess champion was thoroughly checked–including his posterior–via a scanner by security upon his arrival at the U.S. Chess Championships in St. Louis on Thursday.
While the two players entering before U.S. chess grandmaster Hans Niemann were scanned on their fronts by a security wand, Niemann was additionally scanned on his backside.
The 19-year-old was asked to turn around so security could wave the scanning device over his buttocks after he was previously accused of a cheating scandal involving the use of vibrating anal beads to receive messages from his coach.
You can see the viral video here:
\u201cChess player Hans Niemann, accused of cheating by using vibrating anal beads, receives full body scan before match.\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201cWhen you're Hans Niemann and have to go through security check.\u201d— Simon (@Simon) 1665022020
\u201c@CovergirlChase Accused of receiving electronic vibrations from chess master watching him play. The vibrations would signal what move to make.\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
The unsubstantiated allegation of using anal beads came after Niemann's stunning victory over Norwegian chess champion Magnus Carlsen during their game at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup.
Carlsen's shocking end to his 53-game winning streak prompted him to withdraw from the annual invitation-only chess tournament.
Carlsen, who is widely regarded as one of the best chess players in the world remarked Carlsen appeared unfocused during their match and his "over the board progress has been unusual.”
All the hubub about the alleged scandal within the chess community led chess player Eric "Chess Brah" Hansen to speculate Niemann beat Carlsen through the use of anal beads to receive signals via remote control.
So how would that exactly work?
Twitter filled in gaps to please the curious.
\u201c@pattywolfe @MikeSington They use quick pulses for letters and numbers. A=1, etc. So moving a knight from B2 to C4 would be 2-2:3-4. It\u2019s unfathomable to process it unless you\u2019re trained for it, especially in timed games like they play, but it\u2019s plausible. Especially with money involved.\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201c@MikeSington The old vibrating anal beads ploy...could there be a peripheral benefit to hemorrhoid sufferers? This could be the breakthrough we've been waiting for.\nPawn to King Four...ouch!\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
Because there was no substantial proof of cheating via this unusual method, Niemann was allowed to continue participating in the championship.
Niemann admitted to cheating twice in his career–when he was 12 and 16.
But he denied all other such accusations and even offered to play in the buff to prove his innocence.
\u201c@SheReadsMore @MikeSington No proof; just suspicions. He cheated when he was a teenager and confessed but not on live games.\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201c@MikeSington Worth noting that the person accusing him of cheating is his chess opponent and that they have not produced any evidence of cheating.\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
A report from Chess.com claimed Niemann has "likely cheated" more than 100 times in his online professional gaming career.
\u201c@CNN "To detect suspected cheating, the website uses software that flags suspicious moves by comparing a player\u2019s moves to those suggested by a chess engine. Fewer than 0.14% of players ever cheat on the site, according to the report."\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1664958177
The internet chess server website declared:
"Overall, we have found that Hans has likely cheated in more than 100 online chess games, including several prize money events."
"He was already 17 when he likely cheated in some of these matches and games. He was also streaming in 25 of these games."
The anal beads rumor led to the expected jokes.
\u201cThe problem with Hans Niemann is that he's ruined chess for everyone who uses anal vibrators but isn't cheating\u201d— Krythom (@Krythom) 1665066622
\u201c@MikeSington Where do we watch this? PawnHub?\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201c@MikeSington I've cheated using vibrating anal beads. Never in chess though.\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201c@MikeSington I know nothing about chess but is this why some people yell "Cheekmate!"\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201c@MikeSington When Hans Niemann gets up after a chess match\u2026\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201c@MikeSington Apparently I need to get back into chess\u265f\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
\u201c@MikeSington Showing up to the chess match like\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1665073354
Niemann won his first round in the U.S. championship against 15-year-old opponent Christopher Yoo.
Following his victory on Wednesday, Niemann stated "this game is a message to everyone."
\u201cHans Niemann after a victory with black!\n\nUS Chess Championship 2022\n\n\ud83d\udcf8 Saint Louis Chess Club \n\n#uschesschampionship2022 #uschesschampionship #hansniemann #hans #niemann #stlchessclub\u201d— dpawn Chess Academy \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 (@dpawn Chess Academy \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3) 1665065407
He added:
“This entire thing started with me saying chess speaks for itself and I think this game spoke for itself and showed the chess player that I am."
“It also showed I’m not going to back down and I’m going to play my best chess here regardless of the pressure.”