Hans Niemann accuses Magnus Carlsen of ‘god complex’, questions his power in chess: 'He decides the format'

American Grandmaster Hans Niemann has made some bold comments about five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, saying that the Norwegian star has too much power and influence in the chess world. Speaking on The Peter McCormack Show, Niemann said that Carlsen "gets whatever he wants" and suggested that this has led to what he described as a "god complex."

Niemann explained that Carlsen has a big say in how many tournaments are run. According to him, Carlsen can influence formats, invitations, and other key decisions. He also pointed out that chess is already a very competitive and ego-driven game, and having so much control can change how a player behaves over time.

More from Chess

"I would say that in the chess world, Magnus is kind of babied. Whatever he wants, he gets. A lot of the tournaments he plays, he decides the format. He has huge influence on who to invite. Since chess is such a hierarchical, egotistical game and he has all this influence and power, he develops sort of a god complex," Niemann said.

Niemann slams Carlsen-Chesscom association

He also spoke about Carlsen’s association with Chess.com, saying that together they hold a lot of power in the chess world. Niemann believes there are very few limits on what they can do, which he described as "monopolistic power." One of the main examples Niemann gave was from the Grenke Chess Festival 2026, held in Germany earlier this month. Carlsen finished third in the tournament, but did not attend the closing ceremony, while all the other prize winners were present.

"For example, there was this tournament two weeks ago organized by Freestyle Chess, a company he invests in and is the main brand ambassador for. And he got third place. And he was the only player not to show up to the prize ceremony… which is like spitting in the tournament’s face," he said.

"Imagine if, in a Formula 1 race, a driver got third place and just didn’t show up to the podium. It would be a scandal. This is obviously a tamer example, but in general — especially with his sort of new collaboration with Chess.com — they have unlimited monopolistic power. There aren’t really any limits on what they can get away with," he added.

The rivalry between Carlsen and Niemann is well-documented in modern chess history, with the current world number one even accusing the American GM of cheating in the past. It led to a lawsuit being filed by Niemann and eventually ended in a settlement. Niemann recently accused Carlsen of cheating in an online game and said it was even captured on camera.