The Saint Louis Chess Membership has banned GM Hans Niemann for the rest of 2024, citing alleged inappropriate conduct and injury to non-public property. The grandmaster has dismissed the accusations as “blatant disinformation.”

Edited on 2/2/2024:  In a follow-up submit about two hours later, with a 20-minute clarification video, Niemann added “I regretably [sic] brought on injury to my lodge room” and “incessantly apologized and was alleged to be reinstated by the lodge.”

The influential chess membership launched an announcement on social media in the present day saying the world’s quantity 53 ranked chess participant is now not welcome within the membership attributable to allegedly damaging personal property, making impolite feedback, and what they name an “uncooperative angle.”

“After consideration of latest occasions, the Saint Louis Chess Membership has made the tough resolution to not prolong an invite to GM Hans Niemann to take part in any invitational tournaments organized by the membership in 2024,” the assertion says.

“This resolution was based mostly on GM Hans Niemann’s demonstrated inappropriate conduct together with damaging personal property, impolite feedback and an uncooperative angle leading to a failure to meet contractual obligations.”

Whereas the membership didn’t present particular particulars concerning the alleged incidents resulting in the ban, it emphasised that the choice was not taken frivolously.

“We hope this serves as a chance to expertise private reflection and progress. We’ll reevaluate this willpower for occasions in future years, assuming notable progress is achieved.”

Niemann took to X/Twitter to reply to the assertion 41 minutes later, dismissing it as “inaccurate.”

I would similar to to instantly make clear how utterly inaccurate that is. I will likely be posting a full detailed video going by your complete timeline since Fall 2022 and the way the Saint Louis Chess Membership has handled me since then. In all of 2023, I obtained 0 invites to tournaments… https://t.co/VQBBuOUi4m

— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) February 2, 2024

“I obtained 0 invites to tournaments and couldn’t even get a response to an e-mail or name for months on finish. I used to be assured shortly earlier than the U.S. Championships that I used to be not “blacklisted” by the membership and would obtain invites in 2024.  I used to be assured that my relationship with the membership was wonderful and was by no means made conscious of any “inappropriate behaviour or impolite feedback,” he says.

Niemann calls the declare about not fulfilling the contractual obligations “ridiculous,” explaining that he refused to do an interview after a draw within the U.S. Championship.

“That is solely an excuse that they’ve now conjured up for his or her resolution to blacklist certainly one of America’s brightest abilities.”

“After weeks of ignored emails and calls they’ve gone forward and posted this letter after I’ve tried to resolve the state of affairs privately. They appear to be dedicated to ruining the profession of certainly one of America’s brightest abilities.”

—Hans Niemann

Niemann says he is not going to let “blatant disinformation” proceed and intends to deal with every thing later.

“I’ve been attacked and blacklisted from completely each angle. I can’t be silenced, and I’ll be sure that the reality prevails.”

About two hours later, Niemann revealed a follow-up submit, the place he added: “Let’s make one element completely clear, I obtained 0 invites to STL Occasions, earlier than I regretably [sic] brought on injury to my lodge room” and that he “incessantly apologized and was alleged to be reinstated by the lodge.” He harassed: “We should always deal with why they refuse to select up my calls and focus on issues brazenly and actually.”

A 20-minute video clarification was additionally included within the submit.

I’ve absolutely addressed all the claims made by the STL Chess membership of their letter, addressed their personal letter to me and given context to my historical past with the Membership. Let’s make one element completely clear, I obtained 0 invites to STL Occasions, earlier than I regretably brought on… pic.twitter.com/nKbHvqG5C5

— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) February 2, 2024

Funded by billionaire Rex Sinquefield, Saint Louis Chess Membership is maybe the world’s most influential chess membership. The membership has hosted the U.S. Chess Championships since 2009, and the Sinquefield Cup, one of many world’s most prestigious tremendous tournaments, since 2013. 

The membership gained worldwide consideration in 2022 when GM Magnus Carlsen pulled out of the Sinquefield Cup after shedding to Niemann. The previous world champion later revealed an announcement expressing that Niemann had cheated extra usually and extra just lately than he had admitted, which was adopted by a $100 million lawsuit from the American in opposition to Carlsen, Chess.com, Play Magnus Group and GM Hikaru Nakamura.

The defamation lawsuit was dismissed in June final yr. Two months later Carlsen, Niemann and Chess.com concluded their dispute, with the previous world champion saying he was open to taking part in Niemann once more. The 2 performed a sport in opposition to one another for the primary time this week, throughout Titled Tuesday. It resulted in a draw.

Niemann has not performed within the Saint Louis Chess Membership since ending ninth within the 2022 U.S Championship. His subsequent scheduled occasion is Djerba Chess Pageant in Tunisia from February 17-25.