The implication from Mourinho back when he said that was that he got jobbed by the refs in a soccer game, and he'd be stepping out of line if he officially said that out loud. The chess world was quick to read the tea leaves about Carlsen's implication. It didn't take long for the commentators, the streamers, anybody who pays attention to chess to interpret Carlsen's withdrawal as an act of protest.
The chess world is in chaos after its top player accused 19-year-old Hans Niemann of using AI to cheat. Niemann is responding with a $100 million lawsuit against his accuser and the chess website that says he likely cheated in scores of games.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Efim Shapiro and Paul Robert Mounsey, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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