A 19-year-old chess grandmaster has denied using a sex toy to help him win in the biggest scandal to hit the game in years.
Up and coming star Hans Niemann was sensationally accused online of using anal beads connected to a computer programme that would vibrate.
He is accused of using them to defeat world No. 1 grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.
The rumours were further heightened when Elon Musk quoted a tweet to his 105million followers from another user which read: "Currently obsessed with the notion that Hans Niemann has been cheated at the Sinquefield Cup chess tournament using wireless anal beads that vibrate him the correct moves."
Hitting back against the internet claims Mr Niemann said: “If they want me to strip fully naked, I will do it.
“I don’t care. Because I know I am clean.
“You want me to play in a closed box with zero electronic transmission, I don’t care. I’m here to win and that is my goal regardless.”
The 19-year-old chess player beat Mr Carlsen in the Sinquefield Cup on Sunday, September 4, ending his unbeaten streak of 53 games.
The next day Mr Carlsen withdrew from the tournament in a move which shocked the chess world.
He also a cryptic video of José Mourinho, the Portuguese soccer manager, saying, “I prefer really not to speak. If I speak, I am in big trouble.”
In an interview Mr Niemann said: “It must be embarrassing for the world champion to lose to an idiot like me.
“I feel bad for him.”
On Saturday, Chris Bird, the chief arbiter of the Sinquefield Cup, said there was no indication that any competitor was “playing unfairly”.
Mr Bird said: "In response to the recent rumours circulating the chess world, I can confirm that we currently have no indication that any player has been playing unfairly in the 2022 Sinquefield Cup. This includes all rounds played to date.
"We have been running all the Grand Chess Tour events, including the Sinquefield Cup, and other major tournaments here in Saint Louis, for many years with the same strict anti-cheating measures that were in place for rounds 1-3, and we are not aware of any fair play violations during these past events.
"These measures included scanning of players with metal detectors prior to games and randomly after games, close observation of the players and fair play analysis by Professor Kenneth Regan using the FIDE Game Screening Tool.
"However, on behalf of all the players and the event, I consulted with Grand Chess Tour Chief Arbiter, IA David Sedgwick, and together we advocated that additional anti-cheating measures be enacted after round 3.
"These measures included the scanning of players with RF scanners and a 15-minute delay on the live broadcast.
"The arbiter team will continue to remain vigilant, and all of the anti-cheating measures that have been in place will continue to be so for the remainder of this event."
