Olivia Richman 
Hans Niemann and Magnus Carlsen are likely set to compete against each other at the SCC and chess fans are wondering which grandmaster will come out on top.
It’s been two years since Niemann and Carlsen competed against one another, but the two will clash at the 2024 Chess.com Speed Chess Championship semifinals in Paris in a few days time. This will be a match to watch, not just due to the high level of play but the intense rivalry between the two chess icons.
21-year-old Niemann was accused of cheating by Magnus Carlsen back in 2022 after the top-rated player lost to the young chess master. In response to the outcome, Carlsen withdrew from the tournament. Despite cheating in the past, Niemann vehemently denied Carlsen’s accusations, even starting a $100 million defamation lawsuit, which was later dismissed.
Carlsen admitted to not having “determinative evidence” against Niemann but Chess.com still backed the grandmaster, releasing a report at the time that said his progress was “unusual.” Niemann called Carlsen “sick” and “deluded,” accusing him of trying to ruin his life. Now, the two will meet face-to-face in Paris.
Will Magnus Carlsen beat Hans Niemann in SCC?
It’s likely that Carlsen will beat Niemann at SCC.
While Niemann is a talented player who has shown progress in 2024 leading up to this matchup, Carlsen is still arguably the best classical chess player in the world. The two will be competing in blitz chess, Carlsen’s most dominant format. Right now, Niemann is a big underdog against Carlsen.
Carlsen and Niemann have played a total of eight games against one another, with these results:
- Classical (2022): Niemann 1, Carlsen 0
- Rapid (2022): Carlsen 3, Niemann 1
- Blitz (2024): Carlsen 2.5, Niemann 0.5
On paper, Carlsen should skate to victory, but fans are also factoring in the mindset of the two players going into this intense matchup. Carlsen will want to dominate in this format while also beating down Niemann after the loss two years ago. Meanwhile, Niemann wants to redeem himself and has a lot of built-up animosity towards Carlsen.
Still, Carlsen is currently the superior player in terms of both rating and resume. Will mental games really play a factor?
Fans and drama lovers can watch the SCC on Chess.com.
