Joe Rogan is no stranger to wild theories. But even he had to ask, was there any truth to the most bizarre cheating scandal in chess history? When 5-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen showed up to the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) podcast studio, the conversation was bound to veer into the scandal that sent shock waves across the chess world.

In September 2022, Carlsen, then the reigning world champion, suffered a shocking defeat to 19-year-old Hans Niemann at the Sinquefield Cup. The next day, Carlsen pulled out of the tournament without explanation, fueling speculation that Niemann had cheated.

The situation escalated when Carlsen resigned after a single move in their next online encounter. But it was the internet that took things to another level, birthing a theory so outrageous that even Elon Musk chimed in!

On the JRE Episode no. 2275, Joe Rogan wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room as he asked, “Of course, there was like the big controversy with that young man who you believe is a big old cheater. That guy, I need to know, the a**l beads thing, is that a legitimate theory?”

Carlsen chuckled, seemingly amused by the absurdity of it all. He explained that the theory didn’t start with him but rather in a chat during a friend’s livestream. According to Carlsen, “One random guy made a comment about a**l beads and he was like ‘yeah, maybe’ And then I think it started making the rounds on Reddit and then Elon saw it, tweeted about it, and then obviously it blew up.”

But did Carlsen buy into it? Surprisingly, he confessed, “But I really, really don’t believe that has happened. I think it has no connection to reality, but it just became a thing of its own.”

While the internet ran wild with memes and jokes, the actual controversy was no laughing matter. According to reports online, Niemann admitted to cheating in online chess when he was younger but vehemently denied ever doing so in an over-the-board game.

Despite a lack of evidence, Chess.com banned Niemann from its platform. FIDE, chess’s governing body, launched an investigation but found no proof of wrongdoing during their infamous Sinquefield Cup match. Even so, Magnus Carlsen’s withdrawal and the accusations cast a long shadow over Niemann’s career.

The aftermath of the Hans Niemann vs Magnus Carlsen controversy  

In October 2022, Hans Niemann fought back, filing a massive lawsuit against Magnus Carlsen, Chess.com, and others, accusing them of defamation and collusion. The legal battle raged until August 2023, when all parties settled.

Chess.com reinstated Niemann, and Carlsen agreed to play him again if they were ever paired. The final nail in the coffin? In December 2023, FIDE fined Carlsen €10,000 for withdrawing from the Sinquefield Cup but cleared him of any wrongdoing regarding his allegations.

With the dust settled, Carlsen’s recent take on the situation seems more measured. While he once stood firm in his suspicions, he now appears more reflective, even downplaying some of the more questionable parts of the drama in front of Joe Rogan. But one thing remains clear, this scandal was unlike anything chess had ever seen.

So, was it all just an overblown conspiracy? Or did Niemann really cross the line somewhere along the way? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!