Cheating in Chess: The Scandal That Rocked the Chess World

TLDRIn September, American Grand Master Han Smokey Neiman was accused of cheating by world champion Magnus Carlson. Allegations grew louder when an investigation revealed that Neiman cheated over 100 times in online games. Chess engines and communication devices are common tools for cheaters, but chess.com has developed methods to detect unethical gameplay.

Key insights

🚩American Grand Master Han Smokey Neiman was accused of cheating by world champion Magnus Carlson.

💻Cheaters use chess engines, computer programs that provide optimal moves.

📱Coordinating with an accomplice who uses a chess engine is another method of cheating.

🔍Chess.com used move analysis and screen monitoring to uncover unethical gameplay.

🌐Chess.com closed over 18,000 accounts due to cheating and has advanced cheat detection methods.

Q&A

How was Neiman accused of cheating?

World champion Magnus Carlson accused Han Smokey Neiman of cheating after losing a game against him.

What are chess engines?

Chess engines are computer programs that provide optimal moves and strategies.

How do cheaters coordinate with chess engines?

Cheaters can coordinate with accomplices who use a chess engine and send moves to a hidden device.

How did Chess.com detect unethical gameplay?

Chess.com used move analysis and screen monitoring to identify suspicious activity and strength score comparison.

How many accounts did Chess.com close due to cheating?

Chess.com closed over 18,000 accounts due to cheating.

Timestamped Summary

00:00The world of competitive chess was upended in September when American Grand Master Han Smokey Neiman was accused of cheating by world champion Magnus Carlson.

02:42Cheaters in chess use computer programs known as chess engines, which provide optimal moves and strategies.

03:12Coordinating with an accomplice who uses a chess engine is one of the methods cheaters employ.

03:58Chess.com used move analysis and screen monitoring to uncover unethical gameplay and identified matches where Neiman likely cheated.

04:23Chess.com closed over 18,000 accounts due to cheating and has advanced cheat detection methods.