Chess speaks for itself, with Hans Niemann at Grenke
Chess speaks for itself and Hans Niemann speaks chess at an interview with Fiona Steil-Antoni at Grenke Chess 2025 (live games / information).
Hans Niemann comments extensively on the peculiarity of castling in Freestyle chess. (Fun fact: in 5 positions castling on the first move f1g1 is the best move in Freestyle! An article about this coming soon on Chessdom)
Hans Niemann notes the importance of Grenke, “For the fans it is a great experience, I have to sign pictures and give autographs here more than any other tournament of the year”
In this interview Fiona Steil-Antoni asks what is the role of Vladimir Kramnik. Hans Niemann’s answer is not a surprise.
Hans Niemann in conversation with Fiona Steil-Antoni
Hans Niemann withdrew last minute from Paris Freestyle 2025. The news came right after the official technical meeting on April 5 at 19:00 CET.“Personal reasons” was the official reason given by the organizers for the withdraw of Niemann from Paris Freestyle. Since then he disappeared off the radar, without a single message or explanation. That was until he showed up at R1 of Grenke.
05.04. Norwegian TV reports that Niemann is withdrawing after he was informed about anti-cheating
05.04 Breaking: Hans Niemann withdraws from Freestyle Chess Paris 2025 (rolling updates)
06.04 Reactions to Hans Niemann withdrawing from Paris Freestyle Chess 2025
06.04 Chess Song: Disappearing stars (Hans Niemann & Alireza Firouza) #TweetOftheDay
06.04 The organizer of Freestyle Chess Paris comments on the withdraw of Hans Niemann
17.04 Hans Niemann shows at round 1 of Grenke Chess after 12 days radio silence
17.04. Round 1 pairings of Grenke with Hans Niemann playing
19.04 Interview with Hans Niemann at Grenke
Upcoming Netflix UNTOLD episode this April
Netflix UNTOLD 2025 will take a look at the chess cheating scandal Carlsen – Niemann. “All-new films for UNTOLD are coming in 2025 — including the 2009 locker room gun incident between Washington Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton; the chess grandmaster cheating scandal; and the Liver King’s steroid scandal,” says the official announcement of Netflix. The episode Carlsen – Niemann on Netflix is scheduled for April and will be aired soon. Full info here
But there is more: Netflix have already predicted the success of the episode Carlsen – Niemann, even before airing. At this moment they are collecting material for Episode 2. More information about this, soon on Chessdom.
More about Grenke Chess 2025
Grenke Chess 2025 is a massive chess event that takes place 17-21 April in Germany. Thirteen days before the start of the event it crossed the 2900 players mark, and eventually collected 3000+ players. The festival contains the Grenke Open and the Grenke Freestyle Chess with Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Arjun Erigaisi, etc. See live games / information and schedule