American Grandmaster Hans Niemann has responded to critics who accused him of “hate-watching” Magnus Carlsen’s surprising elimination on the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour.“For those who suppose I used to be hate watching yesterday, what would you name what I’ve skilled the previous three years?” Niemann posted on X, referring to the controversy that has shadowed his profession since 2022.The opening day in Las Vegas delivered a bombshell: world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, co-founder of the Freestyle Chess format and chief in total standings, didn’t make it previous the group stage. Go Past The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Carlsen completed fifth within the White Group with simply 4 factors after three defeats, together with losses to India’s R Praggnanandhaa and American GM Levon Aronian, who beat him within the fourth-spot tie-breaker.ALSO READ: Despite being told ‘Can’t invite you to Las Vegas’, Hans Niemann turns up, awaits Magnus Carlsen in ‘Battle of Baddies’This format, in contrast to earlier legs, options 16 gamers cut up into two teams, with the highest 4 advancing to the knockout rounds. Carlsen’s early exit, particularly after dominating in Paris and Karlsruhe, the place he scored an ideal 9/9, was nothing in need of surprising.

Niemann, competing within the Black Group alongside Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Arjun Erigaisi, didn’t cover his feelings whereas commentating on Carlsen’s decider towards Aronian. “There are only a few pleasures in life that evaluate to this sense,” he remarked after Aronian took the lead in Sport 1 of the tie-break.The response isn’t shocking given Niemann’s turbulent historical past with Carlsen. The 2 have been embroiled in a bitter feud for the reason that 2022 Sinquefield Cup, when Carlsen accused Niemann of dishonest. Niemann later filed a $100 million lawsuit towards Carlsen and others, which was in the end dismissed after an out-of-court settlement.