Netflix's Untold: Chess Mates Dives Into the Bizarre Chess Cheating Scandal
The world of competitive chess was rocked in 2022 by a scandal that seemed too strange for fiction. Netflix's documentary Untold: Chess Mates meticulously examines the controversy surrounding American chess prodigy Hans Niemann and his shocking victory over world champion Magnus Carlsen. The film explores how online rumors spiraled into a full-blown media frenzy, with allegations that Niemann used a vibrating sex toy to cheat during their match.
The Anal Beads Conspiracy That Captivated the Internet
As Niemann himself states in the documentary, "Every conversation I have about chess leads to anal beads." This seemingly absurd theory gained traction across social media platforms and mainstream press outlets. The documentary features extensive archive footage, including clips from Piers Morgan and Trevor Noah, who joked that with anal beads, "even if you lose, you still kinda win."
Despite the ridiculous nature of the allegations, the documentary reveals how seriously they were taken within the chess community. Niemann was never found guilty of cheating in over-the-board play against Carlsen or any other competitor, but the damage to his reputation was already done.
The Bitter Rivalry Between Niemann and Carlsen
Untold: Chess Mates paints a vivid picture of the escalating tension between the two chess masters. Niemann emerges as the brash American newcomer who honed his skills playing with hustlers in New York's Washington Square Park. Carlsen, the established Norwegian champion, delivers what the documentary characterizes as "damning with faint praise," describing Niemann as merely "trying to cosplay as a top chess player."
The documentary details how Niemann later filed a $100 million lawsuit against Carlsen and other defendants, alleging a conspiracy to destroy his career. Though the lawsuit was eventually dismissed and settled out of court, Niemann maintains in the film that Carlsen collaborated with chess.com executives to undermine him ahead of a planned merger between their platforms.
Chess.com's Role in the Controversy
The documentary features extensive interviews with chess.com co-founder Erik Allebest and chief chess officer Danny Rensch. While Niemann had previously admitted to cheating on their platform when he was younger, chess.com officials found no evidence that this extended to real-world competitions.
The film also explores how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed online chess, with chess.com's daily active users skyrocketing from 1 million to between 5 and 6 million. Netflix's own The Queen's Gambit is credited with bringing new attention to the sport, while streaming platforms provided opportunities for unconventional players like Niemann to gain prominence.
The Lasting Impact of the Scandal
Untold: Chess Mates concludes with a match between Niemann and Carlsen that took place a year and a half after the initial controversy. The documentary suggests that while the viral story has faded from headlines, its impact continues to reverberate through the chess world.
As Allebest ironically notes in the film, "Anal beads have been super good to us," highlighting how the scandal brought unprecedented attention to chess.com and the sport in general. The documentary ultimately presents a complex portrait of modern chess, where online fame, streaming culture, and traditional competition collide in unexpected ways.
