Niemann's Strong Form Doesn't Erase Cheating Doubts, Says Carlsen's Former Second

• Russian Grandmaster Daniil Dubov, Carlsen's former second, states Hans Niemann's recent strong performance doesn't invalidate past cheating accusations.
• Niemann, accused of cheating at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, has seen a resurgence, reaching the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam final and performing well in other tournaments.
• Dubov emphasizes that a strong player can still cheat, countering the misconception that good post-allegation play proves innocence.
• He notes that despite Niemann's current strong, clean play, suspicions from the chess community persist.
• Dubov cited similar past cheating allegations against former world champion Veselin Topalov, highlighting that inherent strength doesn't preclude past cheating.

Why It Matters: Niemann's current strong play doesn't clear past cheating doubts, as even strong players can cheat.