I've stayed away from this thread during this time because there's just SO much drama around all of this that at this point, it's more childish and annoying than anything. I'm taking this from the opposite angle: Magnus is the one hurting chess right now, not Hans.
Did Hans cheat? Maybe. If so, show me the proof. If he did, burry his career and be done with it, but until there is legitimate proof, it's all hearsay and hardly better than spreading rumors at recess in grade school. Just to clarify, while not my favorite player (skills notwithstanding), I certainly like Magnus. We stand for a lot of similar things outside of chess. The other side of the coin is the reality that Hans is no slouch of a player and just had things all come together that day. It's not like Magnus is unbeatable.
The reason I am giving Hans the benefit of doubt is that he has freely admitted to his past cheating. I suppose I'd just like to see Magnus handle this with a bit more grace. Walk all over Hans. Make him look stupid. Utterly crush him. Don't resign after one freakin' move.
One correction to what you wrote...
Hans has been accused of cheating twice more (by Chess.com when Hans was 16 and, again, a few weeks ago) and never admitted to it - he only admitted to the first incident.
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^^ What you wrote is fair and you make a solid argument. ^^
I believe Hans is cheating - although, obviously, I don't know how.
To me, the whole thing has a Lance Armstrong stench to it - we know he's cheating, other players know he's cheating, HE knows he's cheating, but no one can prove it.
The match that convinced me Hans was cheating was this one...
Hans not only beat Magnus, he suffocated him - like AlphaZero did with StockFish years ago. No one, minus an engine, beats Magnus like that. Then, to calmly say, the "Chess speaks for itself", as you exit the match, well, in my heart, I know something is wrong. So does Magnus.
