Hans Niemann

Hans Moke Niemann is an American chess grandmaster and streamer born in 2003.

Hans Moke Niemann is an American chess grandmaster and streamer born in 2003. He became a grandmaster in 2021 and rose to wider prominence after defeating Magnus Carlsen at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, an event that led to cheating allegations, legal action, and later a settlement.

Early life and training

Hans Niemann was born in San Francisco and began playing chess as a child. He earned the FIDE Master title in 2016, the International Master title in 2018, and the Grandmaster title in 2021.

Chess career

Niemann became a grandmaster in 2021 and gained international attention through strong tournament performances and online streaming. He won the U.S. Junior Championship in July 2021. By 2026, he was listed by chess media as one of the highest-rated players in the world, with a FIDE peak rating of 2,742 and a peak world ranking of No. 12.

2022 cheating controversy

After Niemann defeated Magnus Carlsen at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, accusations of cheating triggered intense media coverage and debate. Chess.com published a report in 2022 alleging that Niemann likely cheated in more than 100 online games, but found no evidence of over-the-board cheating. Niemann sued Carlsen and Chess.com; the dispute was later settled out of court in 2023.

Recent results

By 2024 and 2025, Niemann continued to post strong results in major international events. He remained an active top-level competitor with strong performances in rapid, blitz, and open tournaments, and was followed closely because of the earlier controversy.