GM Hans Niemann has rocketed to world No. 16 on the live ranking list after a series of matches he organized titled “Hans Niemann vs. the World”. He has won all of his matches so far, starting with an exhibition blitz match against GM Vidit Gujrati in Dallas, Texas before the series began, and then in Europe in matches featuring three time controls: Classic, Rapid and Blitz. He has defeated GMs Anish Giri, Nikita Vitiugov and finally Etienne Baclof.
Niemann has a live rating of 2733 and his next big challenge is just around the corner. After defeating Maxime Bachier-Lagrave and Wesley Seo in the 2024 Speed Chess Championship, he has qualified to face Magnus Carlsen in the semi-finals live in Paris on September 6. This will be the first time they have faced each other head-to-head since the 2022 Sinquefield Cup.
Top 22 based on live ratings. Image: 2700chess.com.
The match series began in June and concluded on Saturday, August 24th.
Neiman Vidit 3-2
The first exhibition match was unrated, but it showed Niemann could compete with the best players in the world. In the June ratings list, he was ranked 39th in the world, with a rating of 2688. His opponent, Vidit, was ranked 24th in the world, with a rating of 2721, and was one of three Indian grandmasters. 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
Niemann won two of three sets played under different time limits to win the match and $30,000. The first set was 4+2, the second 3+2, and the third 2+2, with Niemann winning the first and third sets. Vidit, who took home the $20,000, said, “I would have said yes to the match either way. I think what Hans is doing is good for chess. In every sport there are special characters who bring money and attention to the game and evoke strong emotions in people.”
The chess says it all. Big hats off to Vidit for a great game. pic.twitter.com/oEsnVp3FtC
— Hans Moke Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) June 23, 2024
Nimman Giri 24-18
Then came Neiman's biggest challenge. In his match against Giri, then ranked 14th in the world, in Utrecht, Netherlands, the American grandmaster opened up big leads in the first two segments, blitz and classical, before winning the rapid by a tie score. A blitz win is awarded one point, a classical win is awarded three points, and a rapid win is awarded two points.
Blitz 3+2: Neiman 7.5-4.5 gil Classical 90+30: Neiman 10.5-7.5 gil Rapid 15+10: Neiman 6-6 gil
Niemann lost the first classic game of the match, which GM Bobby Fischer also lost before becoming the first American world champion in 1972, but bounced back with consecutive wins in the third and fourth games. The first victory featured a temporary exchange sacrifice that took advantage of black's dark squares.
Niemann earned eight Classic rating points and 25.5 points for Blitz. In an interview during the first round of the Sinquefield Cup, Giri said, “I signed up to play against a 2650 guy who hadn't done anything great in a long time, but when the match started, his rating had gone up to 2710! Not at all what I signed up for!” He explained that he was surprised by Niemann's high level of play.
Final score: 24-18
I salute Anish's fighting spirit.
Hans Niemann vs. the World continues in London on August 14th
No more drama, just chess talking pic.twitter.com/gHGmT9nqcI
— Hans Moke Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) August 11, 2024
Neiman received $30,000 and Giri received $20,000.
Neiman Vitchugov 27.5-14.5
Then in London he beat Vityugov, a former Russian super-GM who now plays for England and has a rating of 2676. Niemann won all three segments of the match.
Classical 90+30: Niemann 10.5-7.5 Vytiugov Rapid 15+10: Niemann 8-4 Vytiugov Blitz 3+2: Niemann 9-3 Vytiugov
He won the first classic game and drew the remaining five games, with one decisive game winning him three points in the match with an onslaught on the Nimzo Indians' black side.
Neiman won $13,000 and Vityugov won $7,000.
Neiman Baclof 28.5-13.5
Neiman's performance The final match against the 2677-rated Baclo in Paris was the most underwhelming of all the classic parts of this series.
Classical 90+30: Niemann 13.5-4.5 Baclot Rapid 15+10: Niemann 6-6 Baclot Blitz 3+2: Niemann 9-3 Baclot
Niemann won all three classic games with white pieces and drew three games with black pieces. The victories were won by the Sicilian Taimanov, two of which took less than 30 moves. The last game was the most spectacular: the 21-year-old grandmaster played a queen trap that quickly revealed that it was in fact a sacrifice.
Bacrot won two games in rapid play to tie the score at 6-6, but was unable to compete in blitz play. The 21-year-old had already won the match, but still won the first seven games. Bacrot then won two games before Niemann won another to take a commanding 9-3 victory.
Niemann won an additional $18,000, and Bacrot took home $12,000.
Wins against Vachier-Lagrave and So in the SCC
Niemann has had success both in person and online, having qualified for the Speed Chess Championship via the Titled Cup leaderboard and then winning two matches against top 10 players.
Will Hans Niemann win? #SpeedChess Championship in 2024? ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/kVXrF3TJg4
— Chess.com (@chesscom) August 13, 2024
After beating Seo, he gave a 30-minute interview to Chess.com, where he reiterated his “chess speaks for itself” motto and predicted, “I think it will become clear throughout my chess career that I deserve an apology, but I'm not a victim, so no apology is necessary. My revenge will be victory on the chess board.”
