Niemann urges FIDE to punish players for accusing young rivals

American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann has called on FIDE to punish players who make public accusations of wrongdoing, especially involving young competitors, following Ian Nepomniachtchi's comments about 14-year-old Canadian IM Aaron Mendes during a Titled Tuesday game. Niemann wrote on X that FIDE must set a precedent against public insinuations, citing Nepomniachtchi's remarks about Mendes and a previous comment regarding 12-year-old Faustino Oro. He urged players with concerns to voice them privately to the FIDE ethics commission instead of defaming fellow players. Mendes defeated Nepomniachtchi in Round 10 on September 1 after the Russian grandmaster questioned his en passant move on stream, calling it suspicious. Nepomniachtchi had blundered on move 38, and Mendes, ranked No. 27 in Canada with a 2340 rating, won five moves later.