Chess-Nakamura criticises FIDE's anti-cheating measures at Candidates tournament

## Summary
Advertisement Sport Chess-Nakamura criticises FIDE's anti-cheating measures at Candidates tournament Hikaru Nakamura looks on during Norway Chess 2024 which is held in Finansparken in Stavanger, Norway May 27, 2024. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST April 3 : U.S. grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has criticised the International Chess Federation (FIDE) over what he described as excessive anti-cheating measures at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Come on, we are chess players, let’s be real, seriously, let’s be real.” FIDE defended the measures, saying they were vital in order to maintain the integrity of top-level competition. “We find tight anti-cheating measures essential. What’s more, the sentiment is shared by the vast majority of players,” FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said. “At the same time, physical check-ups for players hardly changed since Toronto, and it is not that there is any noticeable difference for players. “No other participant complained about it – and that’s for a good reason: all the extra measures control and intercept signals, whilst not demanding players to be additionally searched.” Concerns over cheating in chess intensified in 2022 after former world champion Magnus Carlsen said that then-teenager Hans Niemann may have cheated following an upset loss at the Sinquefield Cup.

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Chess-Nakamura criticises FIDE's anti-cheating measures at Candidates tournament
Hikaru Nakamura looks on during Norway Chess 2024 which is held in Finansparken in Stavanger, Norway May 27, 2024. NTB/Carina Johansen/via REUTERS/File Photo
03 Apr 2026 05:55PM
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April 3 : U.S. grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has criticised the International Chess Federation (FIDE) over what he described as excessive anti-cheating measures at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus.
Nakamura is one of eight players competing in the elite event, which will determine who is to challenge Indian teenager D Gukesh for the world chess championship later this year.
Nakamura took aim at the use of scanners and monitoring devices as part of FIDE’s anti-cheating protocol.
“I think it’s all complete nonsense,” he said on his YouTube channel.
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“I am just going to be honest… they scan us before the games, they scan us after the game.
“They have the metal detectors, they have the separate scanners, I mean… I feel like what are we all? Mossad agents inside Iran or something. Come on, we are chess players, let’s be real, seriously, let’s be real.”
FIDE defended the measures, saying they were vital in order to maintain the integrity of top-level competition.
“We find tight anti-cheating measures essential. What’s more, the sentiment is shared by the vast majority of players,” FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said.
“At the same time, physical check-ups for players hardly changed since Toronto, and it is not that there is any noticeable difference for players.
“No other participant complained about it – and that’s for a good reason: all the extra measures control and intercept signals, whilst not demanding players to be additionally searched.”
Concerns over cheating in chess intensified in 2022 after former world champion Magnus Carlsen said that then-teenager Hans Niemann may have cheated following an upset loss at the Sinquefield Cup.
Niemann later admitted to cheating in online games when he was aged 12 and 16 but denied cheating in over-the-board events. He filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Carlsen, Chess.com and Nakamura, which was dismissed by a judge in June 2023.
That controversy is the subject of a Netflix documentary, “Untold: Chess Mates”, scheduled for release next week.
After four rounds, Nakamura is sixth in the standings at the Candidates Tournament, which runs until April 15.
Source: Reuters
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Nakamura is one of eight players competing in the elite event, which will determine who is to challenge Indian teenager D Gukesh for the world chess championship later this year.
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less “I am just going to be honest… they scan us before the games, they scan us after the game. “They have the metal detectors, they have the separate scanners, I mean… I feel like what are we all?
- That controversy is the subject of a Netflix documentary, “Untold: Chess Mates”, scheduled for release next week.

### Implications
- Advertisement Sport Chess-Nakamura criticises FIDE's anti-cheating measures at Candidates tournament Hikaru Nakamura looks on during Norway Chess 2024 which is held in Finansparken in Stavanger, Norway May 27, 2024.
- Nakamura is one of eight players competing in the elite event, which will determine who is to challenge Indian teenager D Gukesh for the world chess championship later this year.
- What’s more, the sentiment is shared by the vast majority of players,” FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said. “At the same time, physical check-ups for players hardly changed since Toronto, and it is not that there is any noticeable difference for players. “No other participant complained about it – and that’s for a good reason: all the extra measures control and intercept signals, whilst not demanding players to be additionally searched.” Concerns over cheating in chess intensified in 2022 after former world champion Magnus Carlsen said that then-teenager Hans Niemann may have cheated following an upset loss at the Sinquefield Cup.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers chess, nakamura, cheating topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 613.