The chess showdown at the Blitz Society in Paris has concluded, with GM Hans Moke Niemann emerging as the victor in his 12-game clash against GM Awonder Liang.
The event took place from April 10โ15, coinciding with the Netflix premiere of a documentary focused on modern chess rivalries.
Awonder Liang entered the match as a formidable opponent, known for his ability to defeat top-tier Grandmasters. Liang recently secured a notable victory over Niemannโs long-standing rival, Hikaru Nakamura, in a similar head-to-head format.
Despite Liangโs track record, Niemann maintained control throughout the Paris encounter. Niemann secured the overall win by winning 3 games (Rounds 3, 8, and 9), while the remaining 9 games ended in draws. Liang was unable to score a single victory against Niemann’s defense over the 12 rounds.
The match followed a demanding schedule of two classical games per day (60+30). With this result, Niemann avoids the $10,000 charitable donation committed by the loser of the match.
By remaining undefeated against an opponent who had recently bested Nakamura, Niemann adds a significant match victory to his 2026 campaign.
