Rooked: The Cheaters' Gambit

Sometimes to figure out where you’re going, you have to look at where you’ve already been - so, here’s a brief history of ALL OF CHESS. Not really, but at least the parts that we think are interesting: who we think chess’ mommy is, the dictator lovin’ FIDE president who was abducted by aliens in yellow space suits, and where the Hawk Tuah girl fits into all this. If you’ve forgotten everything you learned in history class about the Russian revolution, you’ll love this one. Or maybe you’ll hate it - either way, have a listen and yell at us on some form of social media through our handle @rookedpod

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Check out the Women in Chess Foundation and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gilfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.

Resources
The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again By Brin-Jonathan Butler
The Immortal Game: A History of Chess; Or How 32 Carved Pieces On a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science, and the Human Brain by David Shenk
Hawk Tuah
About FIDE
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial "E.T. phone home" scene
Star Wars Main Theme
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Biden and Trump argue over age and golf swings during 2024 presidential debate
TRC Royal Proclamation and Covenant of Reconciliation

We’re back with our regularly scheduled scandal, this time examining the legal implications of the Hans Niemann-Magnus Carlsen Sinquefield Cup anal beads cheating affair (say that 10 times fast). A half a billion dollar lawsuit, the Sherman antitrust act, tort law, jurisdictional requests for dismissal…this one has a lot of legal jargon. But we take you through all the twists and turns with not one, but TWO law professors to get to the bottom of exactly what happened (heh heh), speculate about NDAs, and talk about what this lawsuit means for the future of chess.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses sexual assault and the #MeToo movement. Take care.

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gilfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.

Resources
Witness to Yesterday podcast
The Social Network
A24 Chess movie announcement
Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers - Islands In the Stream
Hans Niemann - original complaint October 20, 2022
Niemann v. Carlsen - dismissal June 27, 2024
Parks and Rec - funny jail scene
La La Land - I'm Always Gonna Love You
Slander - Miriam Webster
More about Anti-SLAPP laws
VINTAGE POP TARTS COMMERCIAL - MID 1960's
I WAS A WORLDCHAMPION WHEN YOU WERE DOING PIPI IN YOUR PAMPERS Magnus Carlsen vs Naroditsy on Twitch
Piers Morgan vs Hans Niemann (And His Lawyer) | The Full Interview
More on Criminal Justice in Indigenous Canada

Last episode, we took a deep dive into the open secret in chess of rampant sexism, misogyny, and abuse of women. This time we continue that conversation, and look at the ways that the chess community is fighting back to create not just better equality, but better chess. We talk with chessfeels hosts Julia Rios and JJ Lang, Women in Chess Foundation founder Emilia Castelao, streamer and chess player Lile Koridze, commentator and WIM Fiona Steil-Aontoni about what needs to change to finally bring the game we all love into the 21st century.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses acts of assault, sexual assault, and abuse, including abuse of minors. The end credits also include brief mention of suicide prevention.

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Check out the Women in Chess Foundation and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.


Resources
Rare Interview - Bobby Fischer On Women
Bobby Fischer answers the same question about women in chess 10 years apart.
Kasparov Interviews by Edward Winter 
Addressing Sexism in Chess: A Guide to Making Chess More Inclusive
Ju Wenjun denied seat at 2023 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship
"Chess has not been that kind to women," says GM Magnus Carlsen: The Queen's Gambit
Susan Polgar
Facts and Myths About Women in Chess, Dr David Smerdon (GM)
Anna Cramling tells Levy Rozman that opponents were sending her sexual messages after her Games
The Experiences Of Women In Chess
FIDE introduces ground-breaking Gender Equality in Chess Index (GECI) – 2023 Rankings unveiled
Jen Shahade tweet: “Very insightful from the great Pia Cramling on this topic” [video]
Jordan’s Principle

Misogyny and sexism are the two biggest issues we’ve encountered in chess outside cheating. It’s an institutional issue that has for too long been accepted in the sport as normal. Abuse of women in chess is still ongoing at a high frequency, and the organizations and governing bodies surrounding chess have seemingly let it slide…to the point that it’s become an open secret. We talk with Women in Chess Foundation founder Emilia Castelao, streamer and chess player Lile Koridze, and commentator and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni about how misogyny affects the game, their experience as women in a field primarily dominated by men, and what actions are being taken in order to give women a level playing board. Featuring Jen Shahade’s brave disclosure, and the actions and other revelations it has brought it its wake.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses acts of assault, sexual assault, and abuse, including abuse of minors. The end credits also include brief mention of suicide prevention.

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Check out the Women in Chess Foundation and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.


Resources
Jen Shahade: We Need To Step Up To Make Sure Chess Is Safe
Tweet: Time’s up.
WSJ Article
Alejandro’s letter to Saint Louis Chess Club
Tweet: Jen’s follow up
Lichess: Breaking the Silence
The Experiences Of Women In Chess
US Chess Final Statement About Alejandro Ramirez
An Important Message from the Board of Directors
Lessons on Whistleblowing
We, women chess players
Facts and Myths about Gender in Chess
Tweet: Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova
Tweet: FIDE on Smirin
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Healthcare Calls to Action

In honour of International Women’s Day…this is not the episode on misogyny in chess that we teased last episode. How does that make sense? Well, we want to make sure we get such an important episode right. So instead of that episode, here’s a little bonus instead while we keep working to make sure the next episode is as good as we want it to be. Please enjoy this thrilling tale of two chess murderers: Alexander Pichushkin, aka The Chessboard Killer, and the conniving Claude Bloodgoode who killed his mother and manipulated the USCF rating system from within prison to become the second-highest rated player in the USA. Now, you might be thinking "How does this have anything to do with the Sinquefield Cup scandal?" The answer is, it doesn't - that's what makes this a bonus. Thank you to friend of the pod Trisha Bernardo for suggesting this episode.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses horrendous serial killer murders - feel free to skip this one, it doesn’t have any bearing on the rest of the series.

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.


Further reading
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-criminals-and-the-games-they-play
https://www.chess.com/blog/Rodgy/how-an-inmate-became-americas-2

Just what exactly is the psychology of chess? Damned if we know, we’re not psychologists. But Julia Rios and JJ Lang of the chessfeels podcast do a great job of discussing exactly that, among other things…and we were so inspired by them that we decided to do our own episode on psychology (well...pseudo psychology is probably a better term for what we do in this episode, honestly.) Anyways, if you want to hear us talk about what a typical chess player might look like, and why they seem more prone than the average bear to madness (looking at you, Bobby Fischer…and maybe you too, Vladimir Kramnik??) have a listen. 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions Canadian Residential Schools at the very end of the episode after the credits.

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Check out www.crazycrows.club and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.

Featured in this episode:
Psychologist Julia Rios and Chess Teacher JJ Lang, hosts of chessfeels podcast
Mike Boyd, The Guy That Learns Things Youtube channel
Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast
Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian
James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer
Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach
David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law

Sources
chessfeels episode 1: the real psychology of chess
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book
Freddy got Fingered - "The backwards man" HD
Levon Aronian defends Hans Niemann after cheating accusations.
A Psychological Autopsy of Bobby Fischer 
Bobby Fischer on Paul Morphy and how opening theory destroyed chess "I hate chess" - Bobby Fischer.
INFORMATIONAL
On resent hysteria 🙂
Kramnik Threatens Lawsuit as Chess.com Clears Hikaru's Name
Sign the petition
On chess.com statement
Is Hikaru Cheating?? Kramnik "YES!!!"
Kramnik exposes cheaters with proofs! 
Chinese chess champion stripped of title after defecating in hotel bathtub
Hans vs Magnus: The Rematch
Magnus Carlsen on Cheating in Chess, Being the GOAT, and Retiring from the Game..
ALL-STAR | Michael Bublé, Will Arnett 02.01.24

Further reading
https://chessfeels.transistor.fm/episodes/episode-1-not-the-first-episode

What does good sportsmanship in chess look like? Does it actually matter whether its best players are good sports? Well, we think it does - and so do some other people like, oh, I don’t know, Magnus Carlsen (not sure if you’ve heard of him, but he’s kind of a big deal.) Plus our main guest for this episode, Bill Cole - aka The Mental Game Coach - thinks so, too. But, decide for yourself, I guess. 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Women and Girls at the very end of the episode after the credits.

NOTE: This episode is Coach Taylor approved. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. CAN’T LOSE!

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Support us on Patreon and access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.

Featured in this episode:
Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach
David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law
Mike Boyd, The Guy That Learns Things Youtube channel
Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast
Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian
Chess Teacher JJ Lang and Therapist Julia Rios, hosts of chessfeels podcast
James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer

Sources
The Rehearsal - "Eating poo is Satanic"
"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" Scene - Spider-Man (2002) Movie CLIP HD
Brian Telling His Followers He Is Not the Messiah - Monty Python's Life of Brian
Dude, Where's My Car? (5/5) Movie CLIP - Zoltan Meeting (2000) HD
Chess Handshakes but it keeps getting worse…
UNSEEN FOOTAGE 👉LIONEL MESSI 🤬 : "WHO ARE YOU LOOKING AT ? GO AHEAD YOU STUPID
Niemann: Dispute with Sevian a 'Misunderstanding' | Round 12
Friday Night Lights | "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose"
MMIWG Podcasts: https://www.kairoscanada.org/missing-murdered-indigenous-women-girls/podcasts

Further reading
https://www.mentalgamecoach.com/
https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/sports
https://ethics.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Decision_Case_2_2023_final_final.pdf

Finally, it’s the episode you’ve been waiting for: we talk about all things cheating, from the device itself (how easy is it to make and use?) to the history of cheating in chess, and what cheating means to the future of the game. Because if everyone is doing it, is it really that big of a deal?

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

Pause and watch this video at the 6-minute mark: Actually making THAT chess cheat device video - Mike Boyd
And pause to watch this one at 8m30s: Does my chess cheat device get past the metal detector? - Mike Boyd

Thanks for listening!

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Support us on Patreon and access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked

Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.

Featured in this episode:
Mike Boyd, The Guy That Learns Things Youtube channel
Chess Teacher JJ Lang and Therapist Julia Rios, hosts of chessfeels podcast
David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law
Brin-Jonathan Butler, author of The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again
Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach
Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast
James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer
Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian

Sources:
Hans Niemann gets carefully scanned - Sinquefield Cup
I'LL STRIP COMPLETELY NAKED Hans Niemann defends his cheating allegations
CLASSIC SCENE: Pulp Fiction
NASA: What does space sound like?
Hans Niemann VS Fabi In Crucial US Championship Game, Magnus Starts Drama In Qatar
Hans Niemann vs Piers Morgan (ERIC REACTS)
Shrek (2001) - Do You Know the Muffin Man? Scene (2/10) | Movieclips
My match against Hans Niemann. Detailed analysis
Kramnik on the C-Squared podcast
GM Tigran Petrosian responds to Wesley So's cheating allegations 🍿 PIPI IN YOUR PAMPERS!!!!
Hans Niemann: My proposition to Vladimir Kramnik
Announcing the Hans Niemann scholarship
Tweet: Niemann's performance is out of this world
Magnus Carlsen: "I was completely crushed in my game today..."
Magnus Carlsen: "I did ask an arbiter during the game whether watches were allowed..."
Magnus Carlsen: "Just to be clear, I am not accusing my opponent today of cheating."
Tweet: FIDE Laws 11.3.2
Confessions of a serial chess cheat: I’m quite enjoying the Carlsen v Niemann fallout
How to realistically elevate the status of Indigenous languages by Brittany McDonald 

Further reading
FIDE Handbook Anti-Cheating Regulations
The biggest cheating scandals in chess
The History of Cheating in Chess

Hans Niemann had already made a name for himself in chess prior to the 2022 Sinquefield Cup scandal…the bad boy of chess, plagued by online cheating revelations, and already marked as an oddball at the young age of 19. And to be considered weird by the chess world means you’ve really got some baggage (looking at you, Bobby Fischer (RIP)). But what exactly did Hans do to earn the ire of Magnus Carlsen and his legion of fans - was it really just the OTB cheating allegations? Or were Hans and Magnus already enemies even before the events at Sinquefield? Was it really all just a business acquisition cover-up? Why did Hans walk away from a lucrative streaming career to lock himself in hotel rooms across Europe, only leaving his room to play in tournaments and practicing chess 15 hours per day? If we had questions about the unknowability of Magnus last time, buckle up - because hosts Jess and Ryan have even more questions about the weirdness that is Hans “The Heel” Niemann.

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

Thanks for listening!

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.
Support Rooked: The Cheaters' Gambit at patreon.com/rooked to access exclusive content or buymeacoffee.com/rooked

Written, hosted, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Edited, mixed, and mastered by Jess Schmidt.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Executive producers are Rooney and Indigo Schmidt-Webb (ruff, ruff! Awooooo!)

Featured in this episode:
Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast
Brin-Jonathan Butler, author of The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again
David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law
James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer
Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian
Chess Teacher JJ Lang and Therapist Julia Rios, hosts of chessfeels podcast
Mike Boyd, Youtuber

Sources
The Perpetual Chess Podcast: Ep 271, GM Hans Niemann on his rapid climb up the chess rankings and what’s next for him in 2022 https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2022/3/22/ep-271-ep-271-gm-hans-niemann-on-his-rapid-climb-up-the-chess-rankings-and-whats-next-for-him-in-2022
Hans and Magnus beach day at 2022 FTX Crypto Cup https://www.chessdom.com/the-carlsen-niemann-conflict-is-more-recent-than-everyone-thinks/
Reddit: Where is Hans Niemann’s accent from? https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/x6srsv/where_is_hans_niemanns_accent_from/
A Plague on Both Your Houses!! [Romeo + Juliet (1996)]
Hans Niemann raging for 2 minutes straight
Hans Niemann: "One year ago I was a Harvard reject with no potential life"
Niemann: I Have NEVER Cheated Over The Board | Round 5
Hans Niemann banned live reaction 😯
Hans Niemann: "My Uber Eats in this event is already maybe $1000!"
Carlsen's Withdrawal, Alireza's rise in St. Louis, Allegations | C-Squared Recap - Sinquefield Cup
Niemann: Magnus Must Be Embarrassed to Lose to Me | Round 3
Hans Niemann Reacts to Alleged Engine User
when GM Hans Niemann gets banned from chess.com
Bobby Fischer solves a 15 puzzle in 17 seconds | Carson Tonight Show
Twitch - Blacklisted
Piers Morgan vs Hans Niemann (And His Lawyer) | The Full Interview

Magnus Carlsen accused Hans Niemann of cheating at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup - but the story leading up to how he got there actually started over 30 years ago. Magnus was captivating the chess world way before this scandal: from breaking records and claiming his place among the greatest players of all time, to winning on and off the chessboard in poker and fantasy football, to selling a multi-million dollar website and app - Magnus is a cultural phenomenon. But like many phenomena, he’s not entirely…knowable. Even authors writing entire books about him can’t get an interview with the man himself (but we got an interview with one of those authors to talk about that). Hosts Jess and Ryan take it upon themselves to try and figure out why Magnus so publicly accused Hans Niemann of cheating, how he’s been allowed to behave like no other chess player possibly can…and what he stands to gain from the scandal.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions autoerotic asphyxiation (skip from 9:30 to 9:46), sexual abuse (27:30 to 29:00), and child abuse (turn this episode off at the 61-minute mark and pick up with the next episode). Please take care.

Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.

Thanks for listening!

If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.

Written, hosted, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Edited, mixed, and mastered by Jess Schmidt.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Executive producers are Rooney and Indigo Schmidt-Webb (ruff, ruff! Awooooo!)

Featured in this episode:
Brin-Jonathan Butler, author of The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again
Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach
David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law
James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer
Mike Boyd, Youtuber
“Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion, is Kind of a Dick” https://www.vice.com/en/article/dpwy5w/magnus-carlsen-world-chess-champion-is-kind-of-a-dick
“On the Probability of Magnus Carlsen reaching 2900” https://arxiv.org/pdf/2208.09563.pdf
Best of Magnus Carlsen - Funniest Moments Part 1
Best of Magnus Carlsen - Funniest Moments Part 2
Magnus: "Why am I spending time playing classical chess which I find stressful and boring?"
Magnus Carlsen Strikes Back at Maurice Ashley! | 2017 Paris Grand Chess Tour
Magnus Carlsen: After No Rivals, Hikaru is my Second Main Rival
DRUNK Magnus Carlsen CHEATS to beat Daniel Naroditsky
Carlsen Cheats to Win in 11 Moves