(CNN) --
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen released a statement confirming his cheating allegations against his rival and fellow chess grandmaster Hans Niemann.
The statement, which was made via a Twitter post on Monday, follows Carlsen's recent withdrawal from the 2022 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis following his third-round loss to Niemann and his withdrawal against the American after making a single play during the Julius Baer Generation Cup on September 20.
Carlsen had not previously made any explicit accusations of cheating against Niemann, who denies doing anything wrong.
"When Niemann was invited at the last minute to the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, I strongly considered withdrawing before the event. I ultimately opted to play," Carlsen said in the statement.
"I think Niemann has cheated more – and more recently – than he has publicly admitted. His progress on the board has been unusual, and throughout our game in the Sinquefield Cup I had the impression that he was not tense or even totally focused on the game in critical positions, while outplaying me as black in a way that I think only a handful of players can do.
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"This game helped change my perspective," he added.
Carlsen said he believes "cheating in chess is a huge problem and an existential threat to the game" and thinks "chess organizers and all those who care about the sanctity of the game we love should seriously consider increasing measures." safety and cheat detection methods for chess on the board".
Board chess is played face-to-face, rather than online.
Carlsen did not elaborate on how Niemann may have cheated.
Carlsen went on to say that he has no intention of playing against anyone who has repeatedly cheated in the past because he "doesn't know what they are capable of in the future," before explaining why he hasn't spoken publicly before.
"At the moment I am limited in what I can say without Niemann's explicit permission to speak openly," the 31-year-old Norwegian said.
"So far I'm
+I have been able to speak it with my actions, and those actions have clearly said that I am not willing to play chess with Niemann.
I hope the truth about this matter comes out, whatever it is."
Carlsen's statement is the latest twist in a saga that has consumed the chess world since his loss to Niemann and his subsequent withdrawal from the Sinquefield Cup.
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On Friday, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) rebuked Carlsen in a statement for giving up the game against Niemann after just one move, but added that it shared the world No. 1's "deep concern about the damage cheating does to the chess".
FIDE also said in the statement: "We strongly believe that there were better ways to handle this situation."
Days after the Sinquefield Cup match, Niemann publicly responded to accusations that he had cheated earlier in his chess career.
The 19-year-old admitted to cheating at age 12 and 16, but he said in an interview with the St. Louis Chess Club that he had never cheated in games on the board.
"I speak my truth because I don't want it to be misrepresented," Niemann said.
"I am proud of myself for having learned from that mistake, and now I have given everything to chess. I have sacrificed everything for chess."
Carlsen went on to win the Julius Baer Generation Cup despite his retirement against Niemann.
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