New York, New York - Teenage US chess player Hans Niemann has allegedly cheated in more than 100 online games, according to a bombshell investigation by chess.com published on Tuesday evening by the Wall Street Journal.

Niemann had previously admitted to cheating, but only at two points in his life, describing them as youthful indiscretions committed when he was 12 and 16 years old.

But the investigation found the scope of his cheating to be far wider and longer-lasting than that.

According to the report reviewed by the WSJ, Niemann likely received illegal assistance in more than 100 online games, as recently as 2020, and also in tournaments where prize money was at stake.

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The report also says that Niemann privately confessed to the allegations and was banned from the popular platform for a period of time.

This marks another escalation of the cheating scandal engulfing the sport.

Last month, world's leading chess player, Norway's Magnus Carlsen, accused Niemann of cheating during their matchup at the Sinquefield Cup.

The 19-year-old scored an upset victory over Carlsen at the over-the-board Sinquefield Cup, after which Carlsen withdrew from the tournament. The two met again at the Julius Baer online event, with Carlsen quitting the match after his first move.

"I believe that Niemann has cheated more – and more recently – than he has publicly admitted," Carlsen said in a statement published on September 26.

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According to the WSJ, the chess.com investigation doesn't say whether Niemann also cheated in direct duels. However, it does suggest that his strongest performances should be looked into more. The Californian's former mentor and coach also has a history of cheating in the sport.

Chess world governing body FIDE has recently launched its own investigation into the Niemann-Carlsen affair.