Netflix’s Hans Niemann Chess Cheating Documentary: Streaming Release Date, How to Watch
Netflix has confirmed that a documentary about the international chess cheating scandal between American grandmaster Hans Niemann and world #1 ranked player Magnus Carlsen is coming in April 2026.
The documentary will be part of Netflix's Untold series, which details some of the most exciting and high-profile sports stories in recent memory. Previous episodes have covered Caitlyn Jenner's Olympics journey, Jake Paul's journey from Youtube to boxing, and Brett Favre's post-career controversies.
'Untold: Chess Mates' Will Explore Carlsen and Niemann's Chess Feud
The ongoing feud between Carlsen and Niemann dates back to 2022, when the American rising star defeated the World #1 at the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis, thus ending his 53-game unbeaten streak. Carlsen then withdrew from the tournament, prompting allegations that Niemann had cheated in their match.
The next time Carlsen and Niemann faced each other online, Carlsen played a single move before quitting the game and ending the tournament. American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura publicly alleged that Carlsen suspected Niemann of cheating, kicking off a $100 million lawsuit and the chess world's most devastating, high-profile rivalry.
Netflix's documentary will center around the 2024 Speed Chess Championship, where Carlsen and Niemann played each other for the first time since the cheating scandal kicked off. Carlsen would go on to beat Niemann and win the tournament.
While the cheating accusations have largedly died down and Niemann's lawsuit has been privately settled, the two players maintain a strong rivalry. Carlsen said on The Joe Rogan Experience that he doesn't "trust" Niemann, adding "there's still something off, both then and now." Niemann has described Carlsen's accusations as "a PR-created scandal that was designed to destroy a 19-year-old's life." (via Chess.com)
Untold: Chess Mates will release exclusively on Netflix on April 7, 2026.