The upcoming documentary titled ‘Untold: Chess Mates’ explores the immediate aftermath of Magnus Carlsen publicly accusing Hans Niemann of cheating at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup and the $100 million lawsuit that followed, as well as subsequent showdown between the two.
World No 1 Magnus Carlsen and American Grandmaster Hans Niemann haven’t exactly been cordial with one another over the years, having shared a rocky relationship since the infamous cheating scandal in 2022. Niemann had responded to Carlsen’s sensational cheating claims during the Sinquefield Cup with a $100 million lawsuit against the Norwegian and others that was ultimately settled out of court, and the two have traded verbal punches with one another ever since.
That rocky relationship could get even more strained in the days to come with Netflix set to explore the controversy in greater detail in its Untold documentary series that covers some of the most fascinating stories from the world of sport. The episode titled Untold: Chess Mates releases on 7 April, marking the series’ maiden foray into the world of chess, with the streaming giant set to release a trailer for the same on 10 March.
UNTOLD is back with four new films premiering weekly starting March 31:
• The Death and Life of Lamar Odom: Lamar revisits the infamous night at the Love Ranch that nearly cost him his life.
• Chess Mates: The story of Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann’s 2024 rematch following… pic.twitter.com/QBJntjQ3Hp
— Netflix (@netflix) February 24, 2026
“Magnus Carlsen – widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time – is challenged by rising star Hans Niemann, who capitalises on the meteoric growth of online chess. Niemann’s ascension culminates in an epic, controversy-shrouded victory over Carlsen, eventually leading to allegations of cheating,” reads the official synopsis of the documentary that has been directed by Thomas Tancred and executive produced by Chapman Way and Maclain Way.
“Determined to clear his name, Niemann fights his way back to the top of the chess world, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch with Carlsen,” it added.
And it’s not just Netflix that’s exploring the biggest controversy in modern chess history, with A24 developing a feature film titled Checkmate, the release date for which is yet to be announced.
Both Carlsen and Niemann have been interviewed for the documentary. However, while Carlsen is yet to publicly comment on the documentary, Niemann has already made some sensational statements ahead of the release.
“The truth, reckoning, and revolution is upon us. Netflix April 7th,” Niemann wrote in a post on X on Wednesday in which he shared a still of himself from the documentary.
The truth, reckoning, and revolution is upon us. Netflix April 7th! pic.twitter.com/pNqt0omqRA
— Hans Niemann (@HansMokeNiemann) February 24, 2026
And in a separate post, Niemann claimed to be a victim of “false narratives spread across major platforms” while seeking an American sponsor to support him in his journey at the highest level of the sport.
“When the world piled on smear campaigns, coordinated attacks, strategic silence: no one stood with me. Not a single institutional ally. False narratives spread across major platforms tested my reputation and my career at the highest level. Others had state machines, endless sponsors, safety nets. I had grit, intellect, and the unshakeable American spirit inside,” Niemann wrote in the second post on Wednesday.
“I rose anyway. I am American resilience : independent, unbreakable, forged in isolation and still ascending. Intellectual excellence without apology. The will to win on my own terms. Before the Netflix spotlight shifts the narrative, I will select one premier American company as my long-term partner: securing the necessary resources to become World Champion,” he added.
How Netflix followed Carlsen and Niemann around
Niemann had entered the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, the event that currently is part of the Grand Chess Tour, as a late replacement and had famously defeated Carlsen in 57 moves while playing as white in Round 3. Carlsen, however, withdrew from the tournament after the defeat and later publicly accused the American of cheating.
A film crew had been spotted at the 2024 Speed Chess Championships in Paris, where Carlsen had defeated Niemann 17.5-12.5 in a tense semi-final face-off that marked their first meeting since the cheating scandal.
The film crew was also spotted at the Champions Chess Tour Finals in Toronto as well as at the FIDE World Blitz Championship in New York City later that year – the latter witnessing a dramatic quarter-final showdown between Carlsen and Niemann that was once again won by the Norwegian.
And according to Norwegian media outlets, the Netflix crew was also present at Carlsen’s wedding in Oslo in January 2025.
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