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I’ve also learned the difference between smothered mate and a back rank mate. Thanks PaulH!

Many checkmate patterns at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmate_pattern

I like the Anastasia's and Boden's mates. Both likely too esoteric to appear in crosswords.

Geeker, have you read the Chess.com report?

I've looked at GothamChess and Agadmator's take on it, as well as various other article.

The best one I've read thus far, and by far the most neutral is this one from The Guardian:-

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/07/chess-niemann-faces-credibility-test-in-st-louis-as-cheating-saga-continues

Brendan, I've read the chess.com report. I've watched a lot of Youtube commentary by Nakamura, some by GMs Caruana and Chirila, less by GMs like Bennie Bok, Aman Hambleton.

I can't see any evidence of recent OTB cheating by Niemann. I agree that his history of online cheating is ugly, but online chess appears to be really dirty. The 3 US Ch. games so far appear normal.

Hans is in an almost impossible position. Must be difficult to play given all the pressure. Wins will result in more aspersions being cast, losses in "I told you so".

Impasse likely to continue, I don't expect big developments. Best thing IMO would be for Hans to refrain from online play for a year or two, keep playing OTB and let his results "speak for themselves". It would behoove him to be more accommodating/friendly with postgame interviews, lest invitations dry up (Nakamura has noted this).

I think HN is in an impossible situation - what is the guy supposed to do? As you say, if he wins "he cheated" and if he loses it's "I told you so".

The chess.com is uncomfortable reading for HN although I note they also say that 4 other top (100 is it?) players also cheated in online games.

Dr Regan examined all his OTB games and found no evidence of cheating, so what it all seems to come down to is MC saying "he must have cheated because he beat me with the black pieces"!!

I hope this gets sorted out soon but I doubt it will - I don't actually see how it can be. The MC accusation is a bell that can't be unrung (is that a word?) and I sincerely doubt any evidence is going to appear to retroactively settle the issue, so we've reached a stalemate (pun intended).

Many strong GMs (e.g. Carlsen, but I can't dredge up the quote) say that it would suffice for a cheater to consult a computer engine only at a handful (3, even) key points of a game. I'm pretty sure Carlsen has said he'd "never lose" if allowed to use a comp in such manner.

I don't know the details of the various cheating detection algorithms. I had the impression that Regan's algorithms were more likely to detect direct engine mimicry, but can't say for sure. Chess.com's systems seemingly can detect more episodic engine use, but I again lack details.

There was one interesting quote on page 5 of the chess.com paper: Notably, Ken Regan, an independent expert in
the field of cheat detection in chess, has expressed his belief that Hans cheated during the 2015 and 2017
Titled Tuesdays, as well as numerous matches against other professional players in 2020. See Image 2
below, in which Ken shared his views with us.

Back at the impasse: major online cheating, but no hard evidence OTB.

As far as online chess goes, HN's reputation is trashed, and he only has himself to blame for that. Regards OTB games, I think the only way this can be resolved, if that's the right word, is by strengthening the anti-cheating precautions, which, I believe, they're already doing with a 30 minute delay posting moves online and I even saw a photo of a banana being scanned for electronic devices!

I suppose it will die down eventually, most things do - but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Geeker,

You're absolutely right about the language used in HN's lawsuit filing - it's appalling eg. "notorious for his inability to cope with defeat, Carlsen snapped" and " ....dared to disrespect the King of Chess" - seriously!!

I can't see HN winning given that he has confessed to cheating in the past but, like you say, it will probably be settled long before it ever gets to trial.

I'll copy my comments from the Prize thread and ask Norah to delete it from there:

"Was expecting a lawsuit from Mr. Niemann, but can't say much. The rather bizarre and hyperbolic text reads as if it was concocted by a "slip and fall" firm. My experience is that very few such lawsuits ever make it to court. It becomes a game of chicken regarding who blinks first over accumulating legal fees, and some kind of settlement is almost always agreed (details never disclosed, of course). Hans seems to be playing a weak hand as far as legal bankroll goes, but his counsel is no doubt working for a cut of the settlement. There will be no shortage of commentary on the Internet!"

I'm waiting for commentary by lawyers / litigators. Videos so far basically amount to reading the complaint, which I already did myself...

I meant to ask Geeker,

In the US Championships, do you know what was going on when Sam Sevian took HN's king off the board and removed his head - was he looking for a bug or was it something else entirely?