Joe Rogan is no stranger to wild theories. But even he had to ask, was there any truth to the most bizarre cheating scandal in chess history? When 5-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen showed up to the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) podcast studio, the conversation was bound to veer into the scandal that sent shock waves across the chess world.
In September 2022, Carlsen, then the reigning world champion, suffered a shocking defeat to 19-year-old Hans Niemann at the Sinquefield Cup. The next day, Carlsen pulled out of the tournament without explanation, fueling speculation that Niemann had cheated.
The situation escalated when Carlsen resigned after a single move in their next online encounter. But it was the internet that took things to another level, birthing a theory so outrageous that even Elon Musk chimed in!
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