Reacting to Kramnik’s Danya Investigation | Part 4

Eric reacts to Kramnik's video series investigating Danya
Kramniks Video: • CHESSCOM OR CHEATCOM?
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#vladimirkramnik #danielnaroditsky #chessdrama

[@Tenoke]

Eric wants to be investigated by Kramnik soo bad

[@anttikangasvieri1361]

Eric has enough subscribers to be found cheating by Kramnik. Now he just needs to wreck Kramnik in blitz and it is on.

[@madamkirk]

😂😂😂

[@Mugetsuop]

Eric needs to be thoroughly investigated 😮

[@FPL_Habesha]

more like he wants that free 50k

[@FlowerBoyWorld]

@@FPL_Habesha it would be all but free for eric tho ...

[@RudeTetra]

Damn i was so fast, nearly faster than Kramnik doing the procedure after a loss to an IM

[@rq4740]

Do his pants stay on or off during the procedure?

[@rutgerhoutdijk3547]

Ze reaction was indeed very fast, very suspicious. I have seen enough.

[@countdracula7896]

2:05 the disappointment in the "I was not mentioned" 😂😂, my man loves being part of drama

[@thomsonjonus5006]

Vlad should accept Hikaru's offer to an OTB match for one million USD each.

[@jackietreehorn8643]

If hikaru wins, “see, he is cheater because he beat me.” If hikaru loses, “see he is cheater because he couldn’t beat me.”

[@thomsonjonus5006]

@@jackietreehorn8643 that logic goes both ways. then if vlad wins,he must be cheating too.

[@thomsonjonus5006]

He wont use that logic because it goes both ways.

[@sentientbeing8738]

Nahhh, id feel bad. Kramnik has a kid does he not? At least one daughter? Dont want the inheritance or college fund or whatever taken away, you know?

[@thomsonjonus5006]

@@sentientbeing8738 Nah. Putin got one easy million. they can run a Campaign to destroy American chess players if it is not already running with Vlad.

[@andrejbogdanov2816]

Danya turned on the engine, when he was up a Queen against an 1100 to save time while making a video. The only guy complaining about it is the dude, who very recently played TT on another GMs account without informing anyone about it.

[@RG001100]

I heard Fabi say he’d never be interested in cheating, even for a tournament like “have some players cheat, see who got caught”. I could kinda see “don’t use an engine in ongoing game” as a similar ‘sacred’ thing. (I think that is why Danya did apologise even for this benevolent use of the engine). But FFS, using this to describe Danya as a cheater ought to contribute to a FIDE sanction or so.

[@boishack]

Also Kramnik makes it look like Danya used the engine in the current game position, when he actually went back to show some lines in the opening, having nothing to do with the position in a game at that point.

[@adityavv96]

Turn on an engine against 1100 😂😂😂😂😂

[@andrejbogdanov2816]

@@boishack I doubt Kramnik even knows any of that.

[@FrankBudino]

Kramnik is an undisputed World Champion though, while Danya is...just an educator really. At least part of a suspicion arises to those who have an inquisitive mind, and don't accept everything as fact blindly. The risk of losing is too big for these players, and it can happen due to a mistake. I say this as an avid Naroditsky watcher, but even I am suspicious of why an undisputed world champion is so sure, and even publishes mathematical statistics which are hardly opinable.

[@agftun8088]

@DanielNaroditskyGM 3 months ago Hey folks, I'd like to address several comments that pointed out my use of the engine to analyze the opening from the second game while it was still ongoing, around the 25:00 mark. First, and most importantly, having an engine running during a game is against the rules, end of story. It was wrong and I unreservedly apologize to my opponent and to any viewers who felt uncomfortable during that segment. After capturing my opponent's queen, I fully expected resignation any moment and got impatient. It goes without saying that one's status or title should never put them above justified criticism. I am sorry and it will not happen again. However, I'd like to strongly request that you take the context into account and treat it charitably. The speedrun series is educational in nature, and as such, my priority at every moment is to maximize the instructive value of each second. I was up a full queen and minor piece, and was looking at the opening (i.e. the unrelated position after a few moves) in the hopes of shortening the post-game analysis. In the moment, I thought it obvious that in the context of the series it would not be interpreted by anyone as deliberate cheating. I think that anyone with a modicum of discernment can see that I had zero intention of "normalizing cheating" by suggesting that using an engine during a competitive game is in any way acceptable. It is not. And anyone who has watched even a tiny percent of my YT or stream content can agree, I hope, that I have consistently advocated for fair play in chess, and have tried to foster a community that prizes honesty and integrity as we all strive to become better at chess. My priority is, and always will remain, to put out educational content that helps people improve at chess. I try to lead by example, but I am not perfect. Thank you for taking this into consideration, and my deepest gratitude to y'all for your support, kind words, and stories of success. I am honored and grateful to play a part in your chess journey.

[@komilkhudoyqulov7229]

We got Kramnik's Danya investigation part 4 before GTA 6

[@Dude-ln8lm]

At this rate we'll get a part 40 before GTA 6

[@AthosRac]

Danya set up a new camera in a close up to his mouse hand like he was being accused to cheat in an FPS game. lol

[@ziyanma9833]

Dude is using auto aim in chess

[@MrEggPlays]

😂 i remember doing that when I got hackusated as a kid. This whole thing is so childish lmao Dayna shouldn't indulge Vlad the Implier

[@Micas099]

Speaking of FPS cheating, monitor manufacturers are making monitors with built-in ESP. It's going to wreck the genre.

[@RG001100]

Prophylaxis.

[@konberner170]

I saw him wall hacking. Believe me!

[@madamcuriouss]

BETH HARMON NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. SHE KEEPS STARING AT THE CEILING

[@skid3339]

The funniest thing is hikaru explaining how he or any other top gm would destroy Kramnik in blitz 😂

[@jensjensen5231]

Love that Hikaru established that he don’t respect Kramnik because he is crazy and uses that in a bad way, BUT if he was not he would not respect him because he just not at good as he tries to be seen as.

[@Lewis714]

@@jensjensen5231how have you edited this yet it still doesn’t make sense

[@searsino]

@@Lewis714 LMAO

[@jansenncuber8009]

At what point does someone file an ethics complaint with FIDE?

[@logirex]

Russian controlled FIDE would get right on that issue 🤦‍♂😂

[@K2KK-f7q]

I am not sure if they can do much on the matter. Kramnik isn't doing anything in an official capacity. Granted, He is harassing Danya and others online, but I believe that would be handled through a lawsuit. I could be wrong. Chess community needs to call Kramnik out on his behaviour. If he is advocating fair play, 1. He should work on the way he is going about it, 2. He should himself follow it by not playing through someone else's account.

[@jepulis6674]

​@@K2KK-f7qThey can ban him. You open a door to this and you can blame anyone anywhere. WC would be different if after a 6h game loser just accuses winner of cheating.

[@ethan073]

Even if it doesn’t result in anything substantial, which it probably wouldn’t, it should be done on principle.

[@Victor-ji1rz]

​@jepulis6674 then they should ban magnus, too.

[@daviskane7904]

New HBO Miniseries: Vlad the Implier Starring Adrien Brody as Vladimir Kramink.

[@tolkienfan1972]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@qusigh]

I wanted divito to be kramnik

[@daviskane7904]

"I look at the body of work, and I can assume good intent" is such an excellent point Eric. A lot of people have forgotten that the world isn't black and white and trying to fit everything into either one or the other is a fools errand.

[@black_squall]

Kramnik looks at everyone and assumes the opposite. Hmm very interesting.

[@Tjuger]

The problem is that when he checks the engine, his eyes are looking in the exact direction he is looking in in the other videos Kramnik mentioned. And according to Danya's statement, there is nothing in that direction except a wall.... I have no opinion on the whole topic, but I can understand why Kramnik would be suspicious.

[@fh2234]

Lol if what you are saying is true than it gets closer to proof than just suspicion considering its extremely hard to prove someone cheats.

[@achessjourney402]

You should actually see the video that is recommended by KZbin for Kramnik: Are you suffering from mass formation psychosis? You can see it at the bottom right of Kramnik's screen. Interesting.

[@Niki-hv7uy]

The thing is, it is not 100% obvious how to open an engine during a game. For example me personally, I would have to open chessbase, reenter the game and run stockfish, because I have no clue how to do this stuff. So the fact, that he is analysing his game with an engine, without the viewer noticing, and all of a sudden exclaiming "oh wow this is interesting, I have to show you guys something later" leaves a slightly bad taste. I could not care less if he uses an engine against an 1100 in a speedrun, but the fact that he can set it up AND analyse without the viewer noticing is surprising.

[@fh2234]

Exactly. I also think its very suspicious. People most of the time have a sympathy bias and dont analyse it rationally. Using an engine mid game is very bad lol.

[@gavin2520]

​@@fh2234disregarding the context of the clip is a red flag. He is making educational content. Obviously if this was a serious match there would be a huge problem, but it wasn't and admitting to having an engine shows he has nothing to hide.

[@fh2234]

@@gavin2520 I think this is the problem. If it was a serious match it wouldnt even be a problem anymore. It would be over already.

[@gavin2520]

@@fh2234 but it wasn't a serious match. The context of an educational speed run is vastly different compared to the context of a serious game. Kramnik doesn't mention this at all which is quite disingenuous.

[@searsino]

@@gavin2520 Having nothing to hide, as well as the content being "educational" IN NO WAY makes using an engine during online games appropriate or justifiable.

[@Em013L]

It ties into his ”glances”, just happened to have an engine there as Kramnik pointed out

[@davidsantiago7808]

Kramknik glances to his right over and over where is he looking? Also kramknik has been banned before for playing on another gms account in titled Tuesday without telling anyone. He has had 2 fair play violations.

[@ShayWestrip]

I feel sorry for Danya. That speedrun clip is such a grasp at straws example of cheating but many people on KZbin who don’t understand chess and have no idea what it’s like for a grandmaster to be up a queen are going to be calling danya a cheater. Kramnik obviously knows the situation and nuance but pretends not to.

[@RMF49]

They’re jealous losers. Jealous of anyone successful.

[@thesilencer6038]

So if I am up material and completely winning am I also allowed to open engine?

[@tisuisse]

​@thesilencer6038 you didn't watch the context if you think he used to the engine to do anything to win the game.

[@MatsMatsuo]

@@thesilencer6038 he open the engine to start to analyse previous moves, while the guy was stalling the clock in a compeltely lost position. Yes he should have waited the game to end, but this is not a bad faith act

[@99bskr]

@@thesilencer6038 you dense motherfather

[@Gr8Believer]

Well Brah, the insinuation IS that he is setup with an engine to his right where he keeps looking, and who knows whether it's on all the bloody time. And for me why doesn't Danya enter over the board events? It IS interesting indeed.

[@davidsantiago7808]

It is shady in your eyes, but if you insist on seeing shadows all you will see are shadows.

[@fh2234]

Correct

[@searsino]

Everybody was so willing to accept Hans cheated when Magnus threw a fit. Both situations had ZERO proof. Both were relying heavily on the speculation and intuition of top players for evidence of wrongdoing. Both resulted in a high number of slander videos (see Hikaru's extensive collection of videos which reached hundreds of thousands of viewers and resulted in an insane levelof harrassment). Both people making the accusations went mental, Magnus throwing a temper tanrum over losing otb where it was clearly not possible to cheat, Kramnik on a serial accusation spree. Both players who were accused admitted to having cheated a limited number of times (Hans as a 16 year old with engine, Danya citing 95% of the time not using an engine during online games). Walk me through how this does not make you a hyprocrit if your stance differs on the two matters but the reasons are the same.

[@tux1968]

Yes. Danya should not be using an engine. I don't think it means he's a chronic cheater or anything, but i'm tired of all the people blindly saying he did nothing wrong. As objectionable as Kramnik is as a person, he actually has a point. We should not forgive Danya engine use because we like him, and hold it against Hans, because he's less likeable.

[@samuel1469]

It's just that people have common sense. Danya acknowledged the mistake and apologised. If you think this adds weight to Kramnik's vile bullying then not much anyone can say to change your mind. Just like no one can change Kramniks mind, or a flat earthers

[@davidsantiago7808]

You are treating this situation as if it's similar to Hans, it's not. Danya admitted his wrongdoing and he apologized. He didn't do it again and it's in the context of an educational speedrun where his opponents do not lose rating. Hans on the other hand cheated multiple times and was caught having violations in many games. Not just one. There's also the possibility that he cheated against magnus in OTB tournament. Not only all this, but he never apologized. He doubled down and said he did nothing wrong. These situations and people are not similar in the slightest, and to imply they are is disingenuous.

[@dohpam1ne]

Danya shouldn't have opened the engine while the game was still going on, that's correct. To imply that Danya has "used the engine" in the same way as Hans is laughably stupid. Danya used the engine to analyze an earlier part of a speedrun game that didn't assist him in any way to make better moves in his current position and was moments away from ending. Hans actively used an engine on the current board position to gain a gameplay advantage in paid tournaments against GMs.

[@fh2234]

That is fully correct. People have a huge sympathy bias.

[@dontriskett8098]

The fact that the speedrun audience are players learning chess is the biggest issue with Danya using the engine during a game. He is “normalizing” it and young players will justify it now by saying “well a grandmaster is using the engine during a game to help me learn so why can’t I do this myself during a game?” He’s a leader in the chess community instilling poor gamesmanship.

[@mistageeza3]

He has the engine set up on a different monitor, right on the spot he always glances at during his matches. Also using an engine during a game takes some effort, you either manually put in all of the moves, or use a third-party program that captures your live game. All of this is very shady to say the least.

[@limchunkuan2536]

Opening up ChessBase and setting up chess positions takes 30 seconds at most if you're not retarded, and definitely less if you're a GM, who needs to analyse different positions all the time for preparation and learning. But nice try tho Russian Bot

[@steve_ps36]

@@kevinblackkk6945 Never done any of those things, would say the majority haven't too

[@davidsantiago7808]

If you insist on seeing shadows where there are none you will see shadows.

[@99bskr]

stoopid

[@searsino]

@@kevinblackkk6945 What? That is not only a terrible justification for using an engine (cheating), but also a terrible way to learn the game. Use the engine after a game. There is not negative effect from waiting until after.

[@michaelcarrig627]

Danya is analyzing a past game, I am not sure but he might have been looking at game analysis. The idea that this requires a complete assault on his moral character is ridiculous. And in their recent conversation in Russian, Kramnik made his intentions pretty clear. He is butt hurt that people didn't defend him when Hikaru told him off. But why should anyone defend him? He acts like a madman.

[@Nicole-yy1kn]

You missed the point

[@kramnikstudentc24]

Danya's using an engine in the speedrun is the least of the problems a) The fact that he could load the position to an engine within 20 seconds on another screen is a problem b) Maybe he had the game always on an engine c) What proof does one have to say that he never used the engine in other games d) When using the engine he looks at the exact same side where Kramnik alleges that Danya has an engine.. opposite side of the chat Lot of questions to be answered I am honestly confused on who is right and who is wrong

[@filiperoberto9522]

Kramnik student 🤣🤣 you name says it all.. wait.. is that you kramnik?

[@kramnikstudentc24]

@Roman-ho3ko thanks for ur suggestion Mr Roman

[@kramnikstudentc24]

@Roman-ho3ko Of course no one says Kramnik has always been right... He went after poor David Navara as well which was wrong... But that does not mean he is wrong all the time... Please look up the concept of reasonable doubt. I dont see the need to get worked up for everything... We do not know who is right and wrong

[@sbloomis]

@@filiperoberto9522 - c) What proof does one have to say that he is not Kramnik?

[@Joshwaheazo]

The longer this goes on the more sus I actually think Danya is. If you weren't cheating surely you would respond more like Hikaru than Danya.

[@BanditLover-gw5us]

Huh? U think him being being over respectful is an implication of him cheating??

[@wsemenske]

Admit it, no matter what Danya does, you'd think it suspicious

[@fh2234]

Yes, using an engine mid game is definetly suspicious. You would divide playing and engine more strictly. He probably didnt even talk about this, like "guys never use it mid game, its just for content now" but he probably didnt.

[@HarshVTandon]

@@fh2234 He did talk about it. It is the pinned comment on his video which was way before the controversy

[@fh2234]

@@HarshVTandon I mean just when he was about to do it

[@Krorxldyfik]

Of course Kramnik conveniently ignores the context of the speedrun engine incident and the explanation + apology comment that Danya had posted on it at the time (a full 3 months ago, obviously not as a reaction to this entire circus). Also deliberately misrespresenting the fact that he was not even looking at the live position at the time but at the critical moment in the fishing pole position with the knight on G5, which was the educational focus of the video. Obviously the engine should not be open during the game and he said as much himself. Pretending that this is a big deal or even constitutes cheating in any meaningful way is absurd. I honestly wonder why Kramnik and his goon squad in every comment section are pushing this nonsense. Hard to believe he just went insane.

[@АнтонУваров-щ2ь]

why everyone saying that they know at what position Danya was looking with an engine, because he said so? that it?? like cmon.. people can't be this naive, we dont know if he did it only once, and we don't know where he was looking, we only know that he used an engine in live game atleast once, even if it's true you can't just 100% believe what he says, because saying otherwise is ths same as saying "please ban me i am a cheater".. are we in "The Invention of Lying" movie or what D:

[@theKashConnoisseur]

It's the same thing Kramnik did with Qb6. Ignore the context of the move not even being played, ignore the context of Danya making a blunder right after that, and just hyperfocus on how "strange" the move looked because "none of Kramnik's phone friends could explain the move".

[@АнтонУваров-щ2ь]

​@@theKashConnoisseur are you talking about Bc8? Move is strange indeed, is it a proof that Danya cheating, ofcourse not, Kramnik collects suspicious data and publishes it, if we had 100% proof hopefully Danya would be banned already.. atleast we have a proof of him using engine once. Worth of making a video, why not. And if you want to say that Kramnik attacking Danya or something and how poor Danya struggling pls don't, read comments and see what people are saying against Kramnik.. unhinged stuff.. but he don't care because situation with cheating is very dire..strong young GM was just caught with phone in toilet.. (and Kramnik was posting about him right before) so what happens online.. he can't just watch and i respect it :)

[@RG001100]

@@АнтонУваров-щ2ь when he tells us he’s looking at the engine, he tells us what the engine thinks. Or do you think he’s lying about the engine’s evaluation he reported?

[@АнтонУваров-щ2ь]

@@RG001100 first of all not immediately, second of all if he actually has a habit of checking the engine during the game, in this situation up a queen against 1100 there is no need to check current position, thats true, but you still can't do it. Whether it's a habit or a one time thing we don't know.

[@arcitejack]

As much as I dislike Kramnik, no player should open an engine while playing another player even if that other player was an 1000 rated bunny. That doesn’t look good. Still see no evidence Danya has cheated during TT.

[@fh2234]

Its not evidence but it looks very bad as it shows he is not afraid to using an engine mid game because of impatience. Its suspicous.

[@tangalexander5561]

Kramnik is busy deleting the negative comments in his yt channel these days

[@slylataupe4272]

The video shows that it is certainly a pattern of usual behavior for Daniel to have an engine running in the side of the visible stream set up. The suspicion will be forever, to me Daniel’s reputation is burned.

[@davidsantiago7808]

And you are not even going to watch danyas response? You just believe kramknik? It is innocent until proven guilty not guilty until proven innocent. Also the fact that you think an engine "was running" proves you have no idea what you're talking about. He can pull up the game on Chessbase with like 3 clicks. He also was talking about move 6 during the entire accusation, so it shows he was looking at moves at the beginning of the game not the current state of the game. On top of all of this he was playing an 1100 rating opponent and his opponents do not lose rating during his speedruns. I highly suggest you watch danyas response before making a judgement.

[@slylataupe4272]

@@davidsantiago7808 relax, relax, lol. I did watch and my judgement is without any doubt, Daniel is guilty and his reputation irremediably destroyed period.

[@davidsantiago7808]

@@slylataupe4272 ok you and your 40 other ppl who agree with you and kramknik can go on believing that. but his reputation is just fine and will continue to be just fine. even if you assume he is guilty, which he isn't, kramnik himself has cheated twice and been banned, yet he is still playing chess and people like you will still fall for his tricks and watch him. it is fine, no matter what facts danya presents you with you still insist on believing he is guilty, even with obviously no knowledge on how an engine works. he cannot convice everyone, and there will always be a minority of idiots like you. good luck out there friend.

[@slylataupe4272]

@@davidsantiago7808 it is not friendly to tell people they are idiots. You have more in common with Kramnik then what you think lol

[@fh2234]

@@davidsantiago7808what you write is very bad. Insulting other people because they have other opinions or are a "minority" as you say is very very bad. The reason is, that you are argueing out of sympathy rather than rationally. You dont know if Naroditsky used an engine mid game more than once. And if someone finds this suspicious (which it is), let them be and dont insulting them. There have been people in the past who were liked be the "majority" who did crazy things...

[@stellarossie]

Yeah he is cheating

[@Brian22-up3eu]

Eric misses the point. No one thinks that danya needs an engine to win queen up. It is the easiness with the idea of having engine on during the game, the readiness of the set up etc.

[@theKashConnoisseur]

Back in the day chess players used books to study games. These days, chess players use engines. There's nothing suspicious about having an engine installed, it would be more strange for a modern GM not to have one.

[@Naveication]

I have watched a lot of his speedruns and this is just his routine. He plays a game, when it's done, he inputs it into the engine and analyzes the positions for the sake of education. In this particular game (1 out of hundreds) he got impatient because the opponent was down a queen and a piece and the clock was ticking down for 15 seconds already. Danya expected him to resign and got ahead of himself on the analysis part while the game was still in progress. Also every single GM, including Kramnik, uses an engine for post game analysis and preparation. It's almost unheard of for GMs to not have such a setup.

[@TheGuyCalledX]

​​@@theKashConnoisseurevery chess site has a built in engine that's more than strong enough unless we're talking very deep theory or complex tactics. No reason to have a second engine mirroring the live position.

[@zazu9117]

According to replies on your comment, Eric is not the only one who missed the point.

[@maus-v1t]

@@Naveication you are making excuses for a proven cheater, says a lot about you.

[@TuxTuxedo-oc9kg]

Kramnik is a lune but Danya messed up there - big time. And it probably only happened because he regularly does that. Otherwise he would probably have said: "now just for transparency and as an exception, I will now open an engine to analyse the opening and I will show you the engine." But he had it open already. And after he said what the engine shows he chokes for a second - maybe realizing: "omg, what did I just say" - this is not good.

[@mistageeza3715]

Exactly, he clearly has an engine set up that runs 'during' his games (on the exact spot he always glances at). The only difference here is he accidentally said it out loud.

[@lesebasti]

This whole "he had the engine opened already" theory is really stupid. It literally takes me TWO clicks to get to the lichess analysis board without any previous setup. I think it's evident he opened the analysis board AFTER (and only after) he was up an extra queen and the whole "engine already opened" lacks of any kind of evidence.

[@lesebasti]

Not to mention Danya actually explained a few seconds after he said he was looking at the engine that he was OBVIOUSLY looking at the opening and not at the end of the game. And also, there's Danya's answer in the comment section at the very same video Kramnik showed discussing the engine situation. Kramnik, very conviently, omitted all of that. He "asks questions" and when he has Danya's answer a very short scroll away he disregards it completely. Goes to show Kramnik's extends to manipulate the truth.

[@TuxTuxedo-oc9kg]

@@lesebasti this may actually be true. but the game was not over and he started the engine.

[@TuxTuxedo-oc9kg]

@@lesebasti yea Kramnik is a manipulative person, and Danya opened the engine during a game. these are facts. No open engine before the end of the game. period.

[@davidmasse2829]

We go on a slippery slope when we make exceptions for engine use because the game is essentially over. I don’t know Eric. Also it creates the impression the engine is readily available.

[@modolief]

Eric, here's a trick for skimming through long videos on KZbin Press 1, it puts you at the position 10% of the way thru the video Press 2, you go to 20% Press 3, 30% 4, 40% 5, 50% 6, 60% 7, 70% 8, 80% 9, 90% 0 - takes you back to the beginning of the video.

[@SunbeamSmiles]

C'mon, giving a diamond membership to a cheater because they confessed and asked for it is nuts.

[@Apostolnixx]

Eric, Nepo admitted on the podcast that he turned on the engine himself against a potential cheater. I know that kramnik and nepo are on the same side, so it's very funny to me.

[@michaelrogus4485]

The irony of this... and he Hans's coach...

[@LyndsieDances]

Hans popping some popcorn

[@FPL_Habesha]

Danya actually explained why he did it "1. it's a speed run account 2. he was expecting the opponent to resign and opened the engine then the opponent didn't (using his time efficiently) 3. Vald cheated by playing on someone else's account.

[@nugsnothugs]

But how did he just open the engine on another tab and have the current position pre loaded?

[@localview9485]

same energy as looking at your phone after finishing exam while in a classroom. he is wrong but as he told human make mistakes and its not a huge one

[@CuchuIainn]

Yea, Danya was educating his viewers on how to use time efficiently.

[@FPL_Habesha]

@@localview9485 exactly

[@cunucky]

@@nugsnothugs I dont think it takes too long to open the engine, and copy paste the moves into the engine IMO, particularly given how long the game was dragging on. But who knows

[@pvdl11]

The problem with the take that he only used it for analysing the already passed opening phase, is that it seemed like Danya already had set everything up. Like it was running the entire time (but he might not have looked at it, but it was already "tracking" the game). Or at least as if it was the most normal thing in the world that he was looking at an engine during the game ("the engine says"). It was said so casually and seemingly accidently slipped out, that it makes me think he has the engine on often. Maybe not, but it certainly makes me sceptical what the hell is going on. I wouldnt even consider to open an engine during a game, so the mere fact he seemingly has it all set up and it is natural to him makes me highly suspicious. I for example could never imagine Magnus looking at an engine during the game (not matter what the context or if it was only to analyse the opening phase that has already passed). So the fact that he is using it so nonchalantly and that we know about it only because it slipped out is a huge red flag.

[@gavin2520]

Is it not possible that he has it set up for his speed runs only? Someone who has dedicated many hours of their life to educating chess players would likely have a set up to do so as efficiently as possible. Just because he is using an engine during an educational speed run has no implications he would do so during a TT or when he is using his main account. It is also fairly easy to set up an engine to analyze a game you are currently playing, so anyone could realistically have one. It makes sense for a chess educator to have one to use when making content for the sole purpose of education.

[@pvdl11]

@@gavin2520 The fact that he opened it during the game means he is extremely nonchalant about engine use, otherwise it wouldnt even have crossed his mind. And he didnt even give a disclaimer that he will now open the engine, it just slipped out accidently. This means he probably does this often which means I cant trust that he doesnt do it at times where it would be even more innapropriate. I dont know either way but I cant put any trust in him being clean.

[@grasshopper6484]

Speerunning is sandbagging as it’s best, so when you start accusing GMs of cheating in a speedrun series, you wouldn’t need Danya to speak about using an engine.

[@MARKOzekoZECEVIC]

Someone needs to offer a chessboxing match to Kramnik

[@niteknightt7148]

Pronunciation of kibitzing made me smile.

[@konberner170]

Eric is cool. It is like Sylvester Stallone, Gandhi, and Capablanca had a baby.

[@Bourboulithration]

Smurfing and speedrunning is disgusting imho. GMs are clowing on weaker players, gg. Also, analyse the game afterwards with an engine, not during it. Maybe I will also speedrun with engine or use an engine when against a speedrunner to even the field.

[@silvermillionaire]

When is someone going to do a campaign about Kramnik cheating against Topolov in the bathroom during the world championship? Doubt should be cast on his entire career as most often the ones doing the loudest accusing are the most guilty. Kramik cheated against Kasparov, who himself cheated Polgar by taking his hand off that piece... FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE!

[@paulbrowning5376]

6:39 Oh, cmon man. You're playing mental gymnastics here to try and figure out how to justify this for Danya. Using an engine, without your opponent's consent, is by definition cheating. Period. End of story. It doesn't matter if you're magnus carlsen, Hikaru, Danya, etc. It also doesn't matter who your opponent is. So what, because this is a weaker untitled player it's somehow redefines the definition of cheating? So is it not cheating to use an engine against weaker opponents now? Cmon man. Also, using an engine defeats THE ENTIRE purpose of a speedrun. The entire purpose of a speedrun is to see how fast you can climb the rating ladder. If you're using an engine, that defeats the entire purpose lol. If the reason here is for "educational purposes", then this would obviously need to be disclosed to every opponent. The fact that he did this without telling his opponents is very unlikely Danya. It taints his character quite a bit because it begs the question about what else he's not being honest about. It just blows my mind that he would have the need to use an engine for "educational purposes". It's like dude, you're 3000+ rated player playing 1100s. Why on earth, do you need to play the top engine move every single time? The entire point is to watch how a human GM would play, not an engine. In any case, the point is, if you don't disclose that you're using an engine to play your opponent, you're a cheater. End of story. You covering for him and even remotely justifying this makes you and the chessbrah brand look bad.

[@mattlatorra264]

7:40 "It's like a small error to me". What a clown. He is basically saying it's ok to cheat if you're the right person and playing against weaker "unimportant people" basically lol. I guarantee you without a doubt that if this was Hans, he would be trashing him like crazy and saying how dare he and why would a 3000 rated GM have the need to use an engine against 1100s. But because it's his friend playing some scrubs, "meh, no big deal". The hypocrisy by Hansen is unreal here.

[@henripanjo]

Ah, at last ! Some people can think around here. Totally agree

[@adamsanders3521]

This entire argument is made on a false premise. He did not use the engine to improve his position. He was looking at something from earlier in the game. You need to take the full context into consideration before spouting things as if they are black and white. Get more familiar with all the facts and then form a more nuanced opinion.

[@andrius00911]

Well said! Another import thing to consider if somebody does something wrong and is caught, it is very likely it`s not the first time. Like if you are going over speed limit, or stealing candy bar from shop you will not get punished until you do it tens or hundred of times.

[@davidsantiago7808]

Oh my God you are braindead. He doesn't use the engine to defeat his opponents, only for post game analysis. He didn't use the engine on his current position but to look at move 6. His opponent blundered their queen and he assumes they were going to resign so he went to the chessbase to analyze the game. He did not use the engine to defeat his opponent. This simple fact disables your entire argument. I do agree that it was wrong to pull the engine open during the game, but he already apologized for it. It was a simple mistake.

[@osdias]

Justifying the use of an engine in ANY kind of game is low energy. Full stop.

[@fh2234]

Exactly. Its very very close to cheating. Who knows what else he does.

[@AkshaySinghJamwal]

Please can everyone else stop calling his asinine rants "investigations"?

[@konberner170]

Conclusive proof that you don't have to be intelligent to win the world chess championship. You have to be able to calculate mentally, and you have to be able to study chess for long hours, but you can be dumb as a rock beyond that and still be the best in the world.

[@zazu9117]

It seems you proved something else.

[@brandonovich6063]

He is purposely being difficult. Kramnik isn't dumb, he's got some gain from what he's doing. He's crazy and paranoid ,but he's not dumb

[@RaizelLi]

borderline bobby fischer, in the unhinged sense.

[@resir9807]

100% true. People don't understand how narrow human learning is. You get good at EXACTLY what you train, and nothing more. There is no such thing as "General intelligence", they tried to find it with IQ but then still had to concede that there's also EQ, and both are still somewhat problematic, scientifically. The only way to become smart in general is simply do a lot of different things

[@konberner170]

​@@resir9807 I think there is, in a sense, something like general intelligence, it is just that it has to do with how quickly a person learns important things. The common misconception is if someone is very good at one thing that it was general intelligence that got them there. No, it could have been extremely hard work, a sort of idiot savant syndrome, or just, for example in this case, a love for calculating chess positions. I enjoy thinking about chess and watching chess being played, but the calculation involved in playing it exhausts me, so I'll never be good at it. It isn't fun for me to play it. That has nothing to do with my intelligence. Those things that we enjoy actually doing will be much easier for us and lead to more success in that area, and general intelligence is simply different.

[@Janet_Airlines802]

He does have some valid points. Danya always seems to have an engine at the ready. He uses them in speed runs, he does look to the side often. It is suspicious, and the nice guy thing is funny.

[@brandonovich6063]

You don't watch much chess streamers huh? They all look to the side.. to the ceiling.. anywhere. they are calculating, so they don't look at the board. Corroborated by many GMs aswell.

[@davidsantiago7808]

Said by someone who knows nothing

[@Janet_Airlines802]

@@brandonovich6063 but a GM doesn’t need a engine against a 1200, so why use it? The fact the he can seamlessly go to an engine means he’s done it a lot. Maybe it is only in speedruns, maybe not. The argument that he’s to nice is silly, I know nice thieves, polite junkies, that’s irrelevant. And wasn’t Danya answer to put a camera on his mouse, not behind at his screens? Why?

[@brandonovich6063]

@@Janet_Airlines802 you realise GMs study using engines in every game right? He's getting the absolute best answers for his chess lesson. Are you purposely this dumb?

[@daryab9416]

​@Janet_Airlines802 dude all players have done it. You think Fabi loses and then can't load the chessbase in 20 seconds to see where in the opening he fucked up? These people have played and analyzed all their lives. Of course they're fast

[@psybranet]

KRAPNIK STRIKES AGAIN!......KRAPNIK KRAPPNIK KRAPPPNIK!!!!!

[@DQZ1213DQZ]

This feels like Kramnik is bringing the Soviet theme of "catching the traitor" to chess where he intends to imitate the theme he lived through in his early years by catching the cheater now.

[@Erupit2]

I feel like the whole point Kramnik is trying to make is that no one is above suspicion, and vindication is still possible. I know Kramnik is often comical but I for one still respect him.

[@AldjinnTV]

nah, he's an old man with a shattered ego

[@austinjennsen9108]

I am sorry, but that is just ridiculous. Someone having one positive trait is not enough for them to earn respect. You can admire Ted Bundy's intelligence but also realize that, as a whole, he was not a good guy and not worthy of respect. Kramnik is not as bad Bundy obviously, but you cannot respect him after he has repeatably and blindly accused dozens of GMs and IMs with hardly any evidence. Ruining someone's reputation based off of nothing is no joke, and he should be more understanding of that after Tolietgate in 2006.

[@theKashConnoisseur]

At this point, even if he caught Hikaru cheating red handed with Stockfish on the ceiling, Kramnik would still look like the paranoid former great who only names cheaters due to the sheer volume of the accusations he makes. Broken clocks twice a day sort of thing.

[@michaelebert5400]

You'll be the last one to respect him

[@davidsantiago7808]

If you have respect for the current him you are an idiot, plain and simple. He was great in the past, but open your eyes and think for a second.

[@SquinkyThreepwood]

Whoever made the thumbnail is an absolute savage.

[@Kairholaw347]

Danya impatiently opened engine while awaiting surrender from a weak and losing opponent… therefore he maliciously cheats in online matches in exchange for prize money he doesn’t need and FIDE ranking he doesn’t brag about.

[@gior987]

Kramnik's concerns are so based

[@Fiascopia]

If Kramnik had any serious point it would be a 20min video and then he would shut his mouth. Dude is as mad as a brush.

[@chess_poemschess]

Guy will talk in circles for hours and never actually say anything. Aka he's a KZbin content machine

[@LOOKING-FOR-GLAZE-GALAXY]

talk about the allegations of using an engine during a game what would happen to ur account?

[@fh2234]

Thats wrong because its extremely hard to prove someone cheated. Its the best he can do. Using an engine mid game is definetly very bad. Dont justify this.

[@LOOKING-FOR-GLAZE-GALAXY]

@@fh2234 well said alot of people scared to even say tht... am not saying danya is a cheat.... but atleast acknowledge what he did was wrong.... people cant even do that.....

[@christopherkantzos3844]

Reading chat during rated games on your main account (which every streamer does) is MUCH more suspect than using an engine to analyze the opening during an educational speedrun. Why does no one recognize this??

[@arthurmedeiros5594]

I don't think engine should be used during games, even for educational purposes. But that's on me.

[@peterhardie4151]

Yeah, even chat with emojis only is suspect.

[@RMF49]

@@arthurmedeiros5594 That’s not on you. Everyone agrees with that. That’s why Danya apologized. But people who pretend that doing that is equal to playing engine moves are lying.

[@theKashConnoisseur]

The only thing lower than chat's collective ELO rating is it's collective IQ. The promotional benefits to Chesscom from the chess streamer interacting with viewers outweighs the slim risk that 1 out of the hundreds to thousands of viewers is feeding the streamer engine moves. If the streamer even sees the message.

[@RMF49]

@@theKashConnoisseur Low IQ + engine + look smart… I’d expect lots to feed moves or hints. A GM just needs to know when something big is there to get a big edge.

[@cedanillo788]

Kramnik just figured out how to make money out of youtube and he is just randomly accusing people to get attention and views out of his videos.

[@gin.9957]

Kramink don't need money he have 4m

[@gloriawu1306]

@@gin.9957 The official sources say 5m. Where are you getting this 4m number?

[@benjaminireland7096]

​@gin.9957 that's not enough. I said a long time ago that Kramnik is very bitter about how all these big money online tournaments didn't exist when he was in his prime. Money is the motivator for his actions in recent years.

[@tolkienfan1972]

He will never get my clicks

[@jgreen802]

His videos don't get enough views to make money, they're prob not even monetized. Kramnik has money, but if making more was his goal he could do really well coaching, making courses, and taking appearance fees to play chess. The real reason I think he does this is because he has some vendetta against the chess website and Danny Rensch.

[@Janet_Airlines802]

I haven’t had a FairPlay elo return in a long long time. A lot of cheating is not detected.

[@fh2234]

I heard you only get the rating back if you have a supcription lol

[@Janet_Airlines802]

@@fh2234 no they give it regardless, I’m a diamond member. Honestly it seems they only get caught when I report them. I haven’t reported anyone in a while. I only report when I’m very sure.

[@Bromeostasis]

“A bird is not a bird If it already fly away, you cannot catch it anymore; you cannot take it back” Russian proverb 2024

[@lrobbo96]

lmao

[@philipmcauley9416]

A word is not a bird, Once you say it you can't take it back

[@myaccount0000]

Слово не воробей, вылетит не поймаешь

[@salovamrani2084]

Wtf have you typed 😂😂

[@Bromeostasis]

@@salovamrani2084 haha 4:18

[@01forest]

kramnik really got bills to pay this week.

[@nevo13570]

Love watching your reactions Eric! Always wise and entertaining. I wish you could also react to the new video out: Danya responds to Kramnik (13 minutes long)

[@droidgeist]

Klownik's gonna end up beating the One Piece episode total at this rate.

[@BrackenDawson]

The engine during a game is quite clear to me, it's not in indication of consequential cheating. But he still dismisses it too quickly. It was an accident but he should have immediately reaigned when he realised the opponent was playing on, and he should acknowledge that this day. I don't see it as an indication of cheating, a mistake.

[@zikaperic2133]

Eric such a reasonable voice among those GMs...

[@mythirdij]

Cheating, like stealing, is addictive. Get away with it once and you'll do it again

[@fh2234]

I have also seen skilled people from other games cheat where you wouldnt have expected it. Check out the biggest trackmania scandal.

[@mythirdij]

@@fh2234 I see what you mean :)

[@mattlatorra264]

7:40 "It's like a small error to me" 🤣 I have no words Hansen. Ask yourself this. How different would your narrative be if this were Hans that got caught doing this against an 1100 on a speedrun. Is it still like a small error to you? No big deal?

[@Blayd9]

Why wouldn't it be

[@stark_syndrome7857]

Context matters. Opponent was going to stall then decided to play on.

[@megaa1c]

Having the engine open during a game is like saying, 'Hey, what a great idea - let me see how it works for me!' It's setting a solid precedent for others to follow, whether they're doing it for 'education' or just trying to sneak in some extra help. Once that door is open, it's tough to close it - and suddenly everyone’s a 'teacher' with Stockfish on speed dial!

[@carterburgess2337]

1. He opened the engine only after he was up a queen and a piece and made it very clear when he was doing so. 2. He was not analyzing the current position but a moment in the game that occurred on move 8. 3. He issued an apology that is pinned to the top of that video’s comment section making it clear that it was a lapse in judgement. Comparing this to engine use in the middle of the game is intellectually dishonest at best and openly malicious at worst.

[@BadBlunder]

I understand the point, but look at the context here. He’s playing an 1100, up a million pieces, in the middle of an educational speed run where people get the points refunded. Yes, he should have waited the 30 seconds before starting to analyze the position to present it, but let’s not pretend this is some huge scandal

[@subhankarbhadra781]

You are right. In any situation, he shouldn’t have opened the engine, worse is against a speed run opponent rated 1100. And we have to believe this is only time he did this?

[@УтреннийХапучино]

Circus 🎉

[@carterburgess2337]

@@subhankarbhadra781 No one is debating that he shouldn’t have opened the engine. Danya himself has said, both right after the video came out and recently on stream, that it was a lapse in judgement. But you cannot seriously say that using the engine to go over an entirely separate moment a completely won game for strictly educational purposes is tantamount to cheating in OTB chess or Titled Tuesday. And why wouldn’t it be believable when he acknowledges the mistake and deliberately kept evidence of it up on his channel?

[@shawnnathan7658]

By far one of the best takes on this specific subject. I agree that VK’s intention is to link it to general cheating which this isn’t the case. I like your business rationalization approach, makes sense. Thanks for the video!

[@steelsteez6118]

9:52 Uhhh, can you think of anything that may have attributed to him being up a queen? 🤦‍♂

[@chessbrah]

Do you think danya may have consulted the engine to help him get into a superior position?

[@henripanjo]

​@@chessbrahthats not the point. And if you think it is or you cant figure out what is, this is really strange

[@LyndsieDances]

Like we have a bot tounament. We should have a league for know cheaters. The only place they can play is against themselves

[@kf3696]

Danya -- Faces considerable grief from childhood hero going nuts and targeting him Chessbrahs -- We kabitz a lot. I hope Kramnik doesn't target us next for more publicity. Oh woe.

[@ravendusk]

Eric, can you comment on the incentives in the mind of a cheater in chess? Are there any comparable traits in the mindset of gamblers?

[@theKashConnoisseur]

I think Hans would be better suited to have that discussion.

[@ravendusk]

@@theKashConnoisseur agreed, though I believe a cheater has a propensity to deceive by nature, which is why I think Eric's commentary would be insightful, being someone that doesn't cheat. I don't think the solution is cut and dry but investigating what makes a cheater cheat would be valuable in the discussion towards a solution, in my opinion. What benefits come from cheating? Satisfaction? Making other players lose rating?

[@theKashConnoisseur]

@@ravendusk I think that when skilled players cheat, it can come down to a few things. The most obvious is cheating for prizes. But perhaps the most common is cheating to get the results they feel like they deserve. As your ELO surpasses the average, it becomes increasingly difficult to gain points; There are increasingly less higher rated players you can beat while losing to lower rated players becomes increasingly more costly. So if you've convinced yourself that you're a generational chess prodigy, but you've fallen on a steak of bad games that dropped your rating, maybe cheating starts to make sense?

[@cattycats4]

Kramniks mentality is wild, he makes a lot of accusations that are nonsense but instead of addressing these things and fixing them as his subconscious is prepared to do his brain projects it onto others, the more blunders he makes the more blunders he will nitpick from others. This is about egotism, its from the "I mightve made mistakes but as long as other people do theres no need to criticize myself" On that level its a bit childish, and thats because he gets stuck in tunnel vision and never checks the bigger picture. Aside from this hes a brilliant chess player and probably an honourable person, hes not a badguy hes just the uncle with aspergers who is far too smart to listen to anyone else, he should be entertained , eventually he will see sense. Eric has the right behaviour to deal with it as he isnt butting heads with his own ego. Hikaru is the opposite.

[@ethan073]

An ethics complaint should be filed against Kramnik with FIDE.

[@rhwing5095]

You misspelled Daniel Naroditsky

[@iqraathemanuel]

​@@rhwing5095what did Naroditsky do wrong?

[@RG001100]

@@iqraathemanuel it’s just a “no u” comment. Just like saying “you’d have to be dumb to believe Danya”.

[@fh2234]

@@iqraathemanueldid you watch the video? He used an engine mid game lol

[@Sharkmoves]

I m just getting into this whole mess but what i found weird is that Danya (when he was impatient and used engine vs low rated player being up a queen and maybe more) had the engine ready with the live position on an other window. Like how you do that? How do you have a live position ready with an engine? Someone pls tell me, i genuinly don t know

[@heyf00L]

He was looking at move 6 with the engine. It wasn't the live position. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJivhZyLj6aKh7s

[@nugsnothugs]

I wondered the same thing

[@kyubeyincubator3607]

ACAS

[@disgruntledyoutuber]

He explained in a later stream that it wasn't open on a live position. He had a position similar to this before and opened it up, as he always does, to show the possible lines in a similar position. He did this earlier than normal as his opponent was stalling in a completely lost position

[@willstafford4461]

Watch his clock before he discusses the engine. About 20 seconds of the video was edited out. He opened an engine and input the moves from the opening. Easier to see the clock on the original video

[@kuskshirgane7163]

Old man yells at bongcloud.

[@deinse82]

Where are you looking Eric? Guys watch Eric's eyes. He keeps looking off camera. I think all those sarcastic quips are coming from Stockfish...

[@jennystrandqvist1568]

There is a scene in a movie called "Good will Hunting" where a student tell his mentor a series of accusations. First the mentor get upset and defense but then he stops and thinks about things logically and comes to the conclusion that the student don't have the faintest idea what they talking about. That is what comes to mind here. Hopefully Danya and the rest of the chess world will come to the logical conclusion too.

[@fh2234]

There are also movies and real life events where popular and skilled people betrayed themselves and others by lack of integrity and cheating. Best regards.

[@LookAwaaay]

Did he ever imply a fellow Russian player?

[@TheDustAutumn]

yes, a few

[@willardstaton]

Yes, he is equal opportunity wrong.

[@Devilfish6666]

@@TheDustAutumn Which ones that play for russian federation still and want to keep doing so? He only accused players who switched afaik...

[@JoeeyTheeKangaroo]

Old man yells at cloud servers is the funniest joke i've ever made.

[@KennedyMister95]

It's a shame the reactions to the investigation don't have a title as well

[@smashergrilla954]

I heard Hikaru say the same thing when he was playing a game saying well the engine said... And I was like tf I cant remember if it was a speed run but most likely it was. Im sure you can search Hikaru uses engine during game.

[@hassanhaddad3739]

So basically, if cheater gon against my interest its very bad , if its not then its not that bad . Hmmmmmm..

[@adamleckius]

Mad Vlad is at it again. As usual, hard to know whether to laugh or cry. It can be funny and enticing to watch people go insane, but really it's like witnessing a car crash. Fundamentally, there is a profound sadness in seeing this once great player make a complete fool out of himself, and especially when Danya, who does so much good for the world of chess, has to suffer for it.

[@juanroaguilo]

Kramnik vs Danya battle now!

[@no-horse-in-the-race]

All Kramnik is trying to do is advocate fair play. He is doing this because there seems to be very little done by governing authorities or major organisations in the chess playing world. There is a reasonable consensus among the chess community - including top level players - that cheating is a real problem in chess, especially online. In that context, people need realise that everyone is open to suspicion. As such, it's actually not unreasonable that a players' actions be assessed for explanation. The easiest way to avoid suspicion is to set up multiple cameras to show there is nothing hidden. It's unfortunate, but that's the new world we live in where cheating is real and very possible. Cameras are not that expensive and maybe it's just the cost of competing online. It's interesting to me the reaction of Danya and Hikaru to what Kramnik is saying. It's clear that in the US, position and status often do give people leniencies not given to the general population. There are many examples where POTUS has tried to use, used, or plans to use Presidential Immunity to avoid consequences that would fall to any other public citizen. So Danya and Hikaru's shock at being asked to explain their actions is perhaps the result of a subconscious echo of this attitude - they are who they are (position and status) so they should not have to answer any questions - in fact, how dare anybody even ask them questions. Unfortunately (or maybe actually fortunately) this is not how the rest of the world works. If FIDE and other influential organisations in the world of chess start to take action to show they are actually trying to combat the issue of cheating in a meaningful way and forcibly enforce fair play, I'm sure Kramnik will quieten down. As he is a former world champion, he arguably has a moral obligation to help protect the integrity of the game. Seeing as no one else is doing much, he's taken upon himself to try and get chess organisations to do something. His approach is perhaps dramatic but if it creates enough reaction in the chess community to get action, he's ultimately doing a good thing for chess.

[@searsino]

100% agree

[@Truffle_Pup]

4:18 "Az we say in Russian there iz proverb zat iz a word iz not a bird" *(Eric 😳)* "... if it already fly away you cannot catch it anymore"

[@willardstaton]

Danya did pin a comment on that video explaining.

[@nickoslekkas3336]

you have to be very naïve to believe that explanation dude XD

[@willardstaton]

​@@nickoslekkas3336cool, now tell me what the point of cheating in that situation is. He's not using his main GM account, opponent points are refunded on all speed runs, and he does this to teach others. He is making the community better, and gets accused of cheating... Makes no sense, nothing to gain.

[@PaulGoldstein]

​@@nickoslekkas3336 I think he is using engine on the start of the game to get ahead of his analysis. Keep in mind this is. a speedrun, rating points are refunded. So not hard to believe and not really cheating, he's up a queen waiting for the guy to resign.

[@PaulGoldstein]

His explanation "Hey folks, I'd like to address several comments that pointed out my use of the engine to analyze the opening from the second game while it was still ongoing, around the 25:00 mark. First, and most importantly, having an engine running during a game is against the rules, end of story. It was wrong and I unreservedly apologize to my opponent and to any viewers who felt uncomfortable during that segment. After capturing my opponent's queen, I fully expected resignation any moment and got impatient. It goes without saying that one's status or title should never put them above justified criticism. I am sorry and it will not happen again. However, I'd like to strongly request that you take the context into account and treat it charitably. The speedrun series is educational in nature, and as such, my priority at every moment is to maximize the instructive value of each second. I was up a full queen and minor piece, and was looking at the opening (i.e. the unrelated position after a few moves) in the hopes of shortening the post-game analysis. In the moment, I thought it obvious that in the context of the series it would not be interpreted by anyone as deliberate cheating. I think that anyone with a modicum of discernment can see that I had zero intention of "normalizing cheating" by suggesting that using an engine during a competitive game is in any way acceptable. It is not. And anyone who has watched even a tiny percent of my YT or stream content can agree, I hope, that I have consistently advocated for fair play in chess, and have tried to foster a community that prizes honesty and integrity as we all strive to become better at chess. My priority is, and always will remain, to put out educational content that helps people improve at chess. I try to lead by example, but I am not perfect. Thank you for taking this into consideration, and my deepest gratitude to y'all for your support, kind words, and stories of success. I am honored and grateful to play a part in your chess journey."

[@nickoslekkas3336]

@@willardstaton it is just less mental work for him, he streams for hours so he uses an engine to make his life easier, you can spin it however you want and I won't lie I liked the dude, wasn't a regular viewer but I watch him from time to time, imo there is enough circumstantial evidence to force him to play with multiple cameras. I bet you that if there was someone else at his position right now the community would be outraged but because of who he is he is getting the benefit of the doubt.

[@adamh6094]

You’re not mentioned because you don’t play chess anymore brah. Play more chess!!

[@trumppence3834]

God speaks to us through the King James Bible

[@seanm3636]

Maybe chess should only be played blindfolded and in a vacuum

[@slagorourke]

Vlad the Implyer strikes again. Episode 4 now - is this season one? I'm looking forward to some new characters in season two.

[@madamkirk]

Yeah Spinoza's God speaks to me too.

[@danceandtense8045]

Why you are not saying that Nepo also accusing Danya in cheating ?

[@fh2234]

Did he? 😮

[@jasonwhitlow268]

When I first started playing online I cheated while playing a few games (nothing crazy, maybe 100 elo boost at 800). Then I started watching agadmator and spent considerable amount of time on my game. As a beginner I didn't realize it was a serious thing. I suck at chess but i still realized my mistake, so idk how anyone could get to Danya or Hikaru levels while cheating