Firstly, we're all human and have made mistakes. I forgive Hans, and everyone like him, for what they've done to this sport.
I hope that they choose to quit cheating so that people can play in peace again, and I wish them the very best in life.
I believe in redemption over eternal punishment.
With that said, it's dangerous to take the matter of cheating lightly...
1. Thanks to the chess world, Hans will have no problems using his chess career to eat well for the rest of his life. You're welcome, Hans.
2. If most people ever become convinced that most of the time most people are cheating, then internet chess is over. It makes a lot of sense to adequately punish cheaters by whatever means possible...be they monetarily, socially, etc.
3. How much would a titled master have to cheat in order to finally get caught?
4. Thanks to Hans, chesscom comes with the subtext of: “Chesscom...where we only let you cheat 2 or 3 times.” These optics are unacceptable and they reacted appropriately. It's not chesscom's fault that Hans has/had no respect for chess.
5. Because of Hans, the top GMs, who have amicably been playing each other for decades, are now being scanned with metal detectors. Why? Because Hans, and anyone like him, doesn't think that people deserve respect. Thanks to Hans, and anyone like him, people have to play in suspicion instead of enjoyment.
6. Hearing Hans' frustration as he accused Carlsen of "knowing exactly what he was doing" is my exact same sentiments towards Hans taking it upon himself to cheat honest chess players, thereby damaging the integrity of chess. If not for Carlsen's and Chesscom's actions, cheaters would get to ride off into the sunset and never have to acknowledge or take responsibility for the damage that they've done to the same chess world that feeds them.
7. People making mention of Carlsen “spoiling the tournament” might be a bit nearsighted. Cheaters spoiling the entirety of online chess is much more significant and is probably the bigger picture. It's good that an example has been made. Carlsen has every right to be suspicious and it's not because he's a sore loser, it's because Hans has proven that he has/had no integrity or respect for chess.
8. Game after game, after game, after game...cheaters are endlessly allowed to serve honest players plate after plate of their crap...and honest chess players are forced to eat it. There is nothing that we can do about it. But now, when the shoe is on the other foot, all of a sudden Hans is 'the persecuted protagonist' who should be glorified? I disagree. He is/was not a protagonist to chess.
9. Because of Hans putting so much focus on cheating, there is no doubt that anti-cheat teams now have many more cheaters to deal with. The amount of points returned to me are now up 100% in the past few days compared to the past several months.
10. The top GMs made an example out of Hans 'The Cheater' Niemann to make it clear that cheaters are not welcome in chess. It is not fine, it is not OK. Cheaters are dangerous people and represent the end of good sportsmanship, trust, kindness, good faith, respect, humanity and love...much less online chess itself.
11. Hans doesn't seem too sorry about the damage that he's caused. He just seems to be upset that people are suspicious about him...which they have every right to be. He is/was a cheater.
12. The chess world has no way of knowing if Hans is still a cheater.
13. One day, my buddy's daughter picked her nose and ate it. He stopped the party and exclaimed: “Ew! Look everybody! Kayla is eating her booger! Ahahaha!!” I don't think she ever did it again. And, while I don't think he should have shamed the toddler like that...I think it would be appropriate in the case of cheaters...which is exactly what has occurred. Well done, chess world. Well played.
Bottom Line: Nobody has the right to destroy, damage, diminish, mitigate, or otherwise spoil internet chess for the whole planet, for any reason, at all.
In Conclusion: In another 2-5-10-15 years, when Hans has invested more time playing legitimately than he has cheating, he will still be a strong GM and all of this will be forgiven and forgotten.
There will be no grudges held. Everything will be fine.
But for now, as it is, Hans' chickens have to come home to roost for a little while, first.
I believe in redemption over eternal punishment, but there is no reason to think that redemption could, or should, be easy.
This video is everything that you need to know about cheating:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Wiok4H1RY
I hope that they choose to quit cheating so that people can play in peace again, and I wish them the very best in life.
I believe in redemption over eternal punishment.
With that said, it's dangerous to take the matter of cheating lightly...
1. Thanks to the chess world, Hans will have no problems using his chess career to eat well for the rest of his life. You're welcome, Hans.
2. If most people ever become convinced that most of the time most people are cheating, then internet chess is over. It makes a lot of sense to adequately punish cheaters by whatever means possible...be they monetarily, socially, etc.
3. How much would a titled master have to cheat in order to finally get caught?
4. Thanks to Hans, chesscom comes with the subtext of: “Chesscom...where we only let you cheat 2 or 3 times.” These optics are unacceptable and they reacted appropriately. It's not chesscom's fault that Hans has/had no respect for chess.
5. Because of Hans, the top GMs, who have amicably been playing each other for decades, are now being scanned with metal detectors. Why? Because Hans, and anyone like him, doesn't think that people deserve respect. Thanks to Hans, and anyone like him, people have to play in suspicion instead of enjoyment.
6. Hearing Hans' frustration as he accused Carlsen of "knowing exactly what he was doing" is my exact same sentiments towards Hans taking it upon himself to cheat honest chess players, thereby damaging the integrity of chess. If not for Carlsen's and Chesscom's actions, cheaters would get to ride off into the sunset and never have to acknowledge or take responsibility for the damage that they've done to the same chess world that feeds them.
7. People making mention of Carlsen “spoiling the tournament” might be a bit nearsighted. Cheaters spoiling the entirety of online chess is much more significant and is probably the bigger picture. It's good that an example has been made. Carlsen has every right to be suspicious and it's not because he's a sore loser, it's because Hans has proven that he has/had no integrity or respect for chess.
8. Game after game, after game, after game...cheaters are endlessly allowed to serve honest players plate after plate of their crap...and honest chess players are forced to eat it. There is nothing that we can do about it. But now, when the shoe is on the other foot, all of a sudden Hans is 'the persecuted protagonist' who should be glorified? I disagree. He is/was not a protagonist to chess.
9. Because of Hans putting so much focus on cheating, there is no doubt that anti-cheat teams now have many more cheaters to deal with. The amount of points returned to me are now up 100% in the past few days compared to the past several months.
10. The top GMs made an example out of Hans 'The Cheater' Niemann to make it clear that cheaters are not welcome in chess. It is not fine, it is not OK. Cheaters are dangerous people and represent the end of good sportsmanship, trust, kindness, good faith, respect, humanity and love...much less online chess itself.
11. Hans doesn't seem too sorry about the damage that he's caused. He just seems to be upset that people are suspicious about him...which they have every right to be. He is/was a cheater.
12. The chess world has no way of knowing if Hans is still a cheater.
13. One day, my buddy's daughter picked her nose and ate it. He stopped the party and exclaimed: “Ew! Look everybody! Kayla is eating her booger! Ahahaha!!” I don't think she ever did it again. And, while I don't think he should have shamed the toddler like that...I think it would be appropriate in the case of cheaters...which is exactly what has occurred. Well done, chess world. Well played.
Bottom Line: Nobody has the right to destroy, damage, diminish, mitigate, or otherwise spoil internet chess for the whole planet, for any reason, at all.
In Conclusion: In another 2-5-10-15 years, when Hans has invested more time playing legitimately than he has cheating, he will still be a strong GM and all of this will be forgiven and forgotten.
There will be no grudges held. Everything will be fine.
But for now, as it is, Hans' chickens have to come home to roost for a little while, first.
I believe in redemption over eternal punishment, but there is no reason to think that redemption could, or should, be easy.
This video is everything that you need to know about cheating:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Wiok4H1RY
