Hans Niemann, post-scandal, post-lawsuit, post-silicon jokes, is now 5.5/8 in his latest event — after beating Kucuksari (2440) in a must-not-fail kind of round. It wasn’t a masterpiece. It wasn’t designed for YouTube recaps. But it was a win — a clean, slightly irritated bounce-back after a loss yesterday. A statement, if you’re still listening. (You are.)

Let’s be clear: he’s not dominating. This isn’t one of those tournaments where Niemann is lapping the field and smirking through the closing ceremony. It’s not a comeback story, not yet. But it’s something stranger — he’s just close enough to keep the idea alive.

It’s that maybe. That flickering, annoying, unkillable maybe.
Maybe he wins tomorrow. Maybe someone slips. Maybe he scores 3/3 to close and suddenly we’re in a tiebreak with cameras and weird lighting and chatroom fever dreams. You don’t have to root for it. But don’t pretend you wouldn’t watch.

This version of Hans — the not-quite-out, not-quite-in Niemann — might be the most watchable one yet. No lawsuits, no drama quotes, no sponsored content. Just tension. Suspense. Quiet, low-grade menace in human form.

And whether you want him to win or combust, you’re refreshing the standings again.
He’s 5.5/8. Not enough to win it. But maybe enough to ruin it for someone else.

Still Hans. Still interesting. Still there.

For now.

World Chess will soon launch its own media project — a place for stories exactly like this. Until then, we’ll keep publishing them right here.