Hans Niemann Backs Out Of Lie Detector Test, Accuses Daniil Dubov Of 'Disrespectful' Behavior
GM Hans Niemann said he has withdrawn from a previously agreed-upon polygraph test, popularly known as a "lie detector test," following his loss against GM Daniil Dubov, citing the Russian's "disrespectful" behavior.
[Updated March 21, 2025:] After this story was published, Niemann shared a post on X/Twitter that he has scheduled a polygraph test and intends to keep his word.]
The 18-game blitz match took place in Moscow, Russia, last week. Dubov narrowly won with a 9.5-8.5 score. As part of the challenge, the loser was expected to answer a single question while hooked to a polygraph test. The match was meant to settle a dispute after the 2024 World Blitz Championship, where Dubov did not show up for their encounter, and Niemann won by forfeit.
However, Niemann declared in a video on his YouTube channel that he would not take the test due to what he described as Dubov's "constant disrespect."
"I have no intention of giving someone like Dubov, who behaved like a child, the honor of asking me a question on the lie detector, which is pure pseudo-science, when I have nothing to prove," Niemann said.
"Despite all the things that have been done to me, I have continued to perform. I have nothing left to prove. The onus is on them to prove. These are terrible people who tried to destroy a 19-year-old kid's life because of a personal and sick vendetta."
According to the 21-year-old, Dubov disturbed him by speaking to him during the match, refused to shake hands, and exited the playing room, dismissing the event as a "clown show."
"It's just mindboggling the level of disrespect from the chess world and chess players," Niemann said. According to Niemann, Dubov demanded the test to be conducted in Dubai at his expense. "I'm not going to pay for an entire trip and put up Dubov in a nice hotel just for this."
While declaring in the video that the test was off the table, Niemann seemed more open to the possibility in a follow-up post on X, saying it could be done in a "neutral setting" with "fair options."
My rejection of Dubov’s polygraph conditions was regarding his demand to do it in Dubai and for me to cover the costs. One should not forget that he left without a handshake and called the match a clown show on his way out. It must be done in a neutral setting, I am exploring…
— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) March 18, 2025
Responding to Chess.com, Dubov said he did not want to comment on Niemann's accusations.
In an interview with a Russian site, the 28-year-old said he already knew the question he would ask: "Have you cheated over the board?" When asked to be more specific, he said he would ask whether Niemann has cheated "over the past five years" or not.
Niemann finished eighth in the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, gained two rating points, and climbed to world number 20 with a rating of 2736. He continues to make attempts to organize matches privately, recently issuing a $100,000 challenge to GM Ian Nepomniachtchi. The World Blitz Co-champion did not respond publicly to the invitation.
The American grandmaster's next event is the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris, where he was given a surprise wildcard last month.
