I saw this on the lichess homepage but no comments about it yet:
GM Hans Niemann has been banned by the Saint Louis Chess Club from participating in any of their invitational events this year. In its official statement, the club cited his "inappropriate behavior including damaging private property, rude comments, and an uncooperative attitude". Niemann responded and described the club's statement as "completely inaccurate".
Official statement of the SLCC:
nitter.adminforge.de/STLChessClub/status/1753505572966584807#mGM Hans Niemann's response:
nitter.adminforge.de/HansMokeNiemann/status/1753550063089922095#mkarma hits the bigmouth
@Cedur216 said in #2:
> karma hits the bigmouth
Perhaps, but Niemann may have a point when he mentions that he got no invitations from them in 2023 even though they invited lower rated players instead of him. So Niemann thinks that this ban for 2024 is only formalizing what they were doing anyway - which he thinks is unfair.
If the club booked the suite for Hans, then they are imo, fine to ban Hans.
If the club did not book the suite, then the damage is between the hotel and Hans and the club has no 'business' in suspending him.
Do I smell another lawsuit?
Disgusting and shameful attack on Hans. The SLCC needs to be defunded.
@Jade-1 said in #6:
> Disgusting and shameful attack on Hans. The SLCC needs to be defunded.
I absolutely agree
@Cedur216 said in #2:
> karma hits the bigmouth
I know, Niemann smashed Hikaru in the time scramble! But I am not sure you should really be referring to Hikaru as a “big mouth”. Oh wait, yes you should because Hikaru is definitely a big mouth!
The top chess players often seem to have big egos. It's understandable I guess. Big frogs in a small pond. Chess is actually a small pond when you consider all sports both mental and physical. Some handle a big reputation well. Some do not. I could name a few in both categories but I won't.
Hans is a very young man, 20 I believe. Has he had the right parenting, mentoring, teaching, guidance and help for the situation he finds himself in? I don't know. Magnus Carlsen did have all that kind of help growing up and and he turned out well. Maybe Magnus was also a naturally calm and mature personality for his age as he grew up. I suspect so and that would help him too.
Stop judging Niemann so much, I would say. Draw a line under his teenage behaviour and forget it. I hope the right people are reaching out to him now and giving him the right sort of support, help and guidance. There are steady geniuses and there are volatile geniuses. Each are created and then further made by genetics , epigenetics and upbringing.
People are so quick to judge, so slow to help. Uh oh, I guess that's me being a bit judgey too. See, it is so easy to fall into being judgemental and it is usually not helpful.
How does one defund a club that is basically the plaything of a wealthy patron?
It would also seem that whom the SLCC chooses to invite, or not invite, to a tournament is entirely at the discretion of the club.
That much said, I have to wonder why the SLCC would bother to make such an announcement. By making a defacto decision more than year ago, they have already covered themselves, saved themselves from any further embarrassment. What further do they hope to achieve? Or are people they sticking their noses where they don't belong?
