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With allegations of match-fixing spreading like wildfire on the internet after his joint-World Blitz title win, Carlsen broke his silence and fought back, clearing the air about the whole situation.
Magnus Carlsen (left) and Ian Nepomniachtchi share a hug after the match. (Pic Credit: X/FIDE_chess)
Magnus Carlsen cleared the air about allegations of match-fixing, after clips of the former World Champion surfaced where he was seen contemplating playing out multiple draws to Ian Nepomniachtchi until FIDE awarded them the split World Blitz title.
Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi created history after they agreed to share the World Blitz Chess Championship title in New York. Carlsen tabled the proposal to his opponent after the three sudden-death games failed to separate the two.
Carlsen was in prime position to win the championship title having beaten Nepomniachtchi in two games to take 2-0 lead. A draw would have been enough for the Norwegian to seal the title.
However, Nepomniachtchi made a comeback to win two games in a row forcing a tie-break. There were three sudden-death games but they failed to produce a winner.
Finally, it was decided by FIDE that the title be split between the two, marking the first time in history where the World Blitz title was shared.
The move came under much scrutiny in the chess community, and after a clip of the two engaging in conversation where Carlsen is heard stating that they would play ‘short draws till they (FIDE) give up’ and award the joint title.
Magnus : “If they like refuse, we can just play short draws until they give up.”Isn’t this match-fixing, @FIDE_chess? Dubov & Nepo were double forfeited last year for pre-arranging a draw, why wasn’t similar action taken this time around? pic.twitter.com/WjyteaztLi
— Abhiraj (@mytywarriorking) January 1, 2025
“Also, if they like refuse, we can just play short draws until they give up,” Carlsen is seen stating to Nepomniachtchi.
In the aftermath of what followed, with allegations of math-fixing spreading like wildfire on the internet, Carlsen broke his silence and fought back, clearing the air about the whole situation.
I’ve never prearranged a draw in my career. In the video I’m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules. This was obviously not an attempt to influence FIDE. It was said in the spirit that I thought FIDE would agree to our proposal. If anything it was a… Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) January 1, 2025
“I’ve never prearranged a draw in my career. In the video I’m joking with Ian in a situation with lacking decisive tiebreak rules. This was obviously not an attempt to influence FIDE. It was said in the spirit that I thought FIDE would agree to our proposal. If anything it was a bad joke given the gravity of the situation,” Carlsen wrote on X.
“I think the match itself showed two players playing high level chess, equally matched and both deserving of a win.”
Meanwhile, American grandmaster Hans Niemann has lashed out at FIDE for having allowed the two to share the title.
In a series of posts on X, Neimann alleged that the organisers made up a new rule because of financial threats.
But, what is to be kept in mind here is that Carlsen, in the past, has accused Niemann of cheating that resulted in the latter filing a lawsuit.
