Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann have spoken publicly about the 2022 Sinquefield Cup cheating allegations in Netflix's Untold: Chess Mates, released April 7. Carlsen explained his suspicions during their round-three game, while Niemann reflected on the fallout from his life. The film features insights from both players and chess officials.
The 74-minute documentary revisits Carlsen's withdrawal from the Sinquefield Cup after losing to the then-19-year-old Niemann. At the time, the players shared the lead with 1.5 points each. Carlsen described feeling unsettled, stating, 'I felt that I was not playing a human.' He cited prior concerns from Niemann's online play and their encounters, including the FTX Crypto Cup in Miami and Niemann's comments about replacing him as world champion. Carlsen noted a psychological disadvantage, saying, 'If you are in a situation where you don't trust your opponent, you have a huge psychological disadvantage.'