American grandmaster Hans Niemann says he wants chess to evolve and become like UFC or boxing.
Since Niemann will not be participating in any tournaments for the next two years, he is also interested in competing against top chess players such as Arjun Erigaisi, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus Carlsen and Daniil Dubov.
“After the three games of the World Series against Hans Niemann, I tried to arrange games with Erigaishi, Caruana, Nakamura, Carlsen and Dubov,” he wrote in X.
After the three games of the World Series against Hans Niemann, I tried to arrange games with Erigaishi, Caruana, Nakamura, Carlsen, and Dubov. I offered the winner 100k to Eligaishi and Caruana (they didn’t give the money) but they have not accepted the offer yet. This is how chess should be…
— HansMokeNiemann (@HansMokeNiemann) January 11, 2025
“I offered Erigaisi and Caruana $100,000 to the winner (they didn’t put up the money), but they haven’t accepted the offer yet.
“Chess should be like UFC or boxing: pure meritocracy.
“There are no tournaments for the next two months, but I want to play against top players. Chess must evolve!”
The world of chess needs to be more positive. I promise that in 2025, chess will tell the tale 🙂
— HansMokeNiemann (@HansMokeNiemann) January 11, 2025
In another post about X, Neiman asked chess fans to be patient.
“The world of chess needs to be more positive. I promise you that in 2025, chess will say it all,” he wrote.
Last week, Hans Niemann revealed his 2025 ambition to put world No. 3 Hikaru Nakamura “in my place”, saying he wants to be the number one chess streamer and number one chess player.
“I’m going back to streaming for tomorrow’s Fischer 960 qualifying,” Niemann wrote to X.
“It’s time to put fellow content creators and fellow professionals, Hikaru and Gotham Chess, in their place.
“My goal for 2025 is to be the number 1 streamer and number 1 chess player.”
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