For more than two years, Australian chess streamer Hannah Sayce allegedly found herself at the centre of a campaign that police say went far beyond unwanted online attention. What began as alleged information-gathering about a public figure eventually became a criminal case involving travel, international authorities and an intervention order.
Now, Shumsheer Singh Ghumman, 47, is behind bars after a Victorian Supreme Court judge refused him bail. He faces 35 charges, while prosecutors allege that his actions were persistent, organised and increasingly concerning. Ghumman denies the allegations and intends to contest the case at trial.
Police allege the stalking campaign lasted more than two years
According to evidence presented during the bail proceedings, police allege that the conduct occurred between April 2024 and May 2026.
Sayce had obtained an intervention order against Ghumman in March 2025. Prosecutors allege, however, that the order did not stop the alleged behaviour.
Police told the court that Ghumman continued gathering information about Sayce, including details concerning her family, friends, addresses and travel plans.
The allegations were not limited to Sayce herself. Prosecutors also allege that Ghumman attempted to discourage her from pursuing criminal charges and intimidated members of her family and her friends.
During the September 23 bail hearing, Justice Amanda Fox described the alleged offending as โmethodical and planned.โ
The court heard material that prosecutors say indicated a significant level of organisation behind the alleged conduct.
At this stage, those allegations remain unproven. The bail hearing was not a trial, and the court has not determined that Ghumman committed the offences.
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Key dates in the case
| Date | Development |
| April 2024 | Police allege the stalking-related conduct began |
| March 2025 | Sayce obtained an intervention order against Ghumman |
| May 1, 2026 | Ghumman was arrested at his Melbourne cafe |
| May 2026 | Police allege the wider period of conduct ended |
| September 23, 2026 | Victorian Supreme Court refused Ghumman bail |
| October 2026 | Further proceedings are expected |
The allegations allegedly followed Sayce beyond Australia
One of the most striking parts of the case emerged when prosecutors described what allegedly happened while Sayce was travelling internationally.
According to evidence reported by Australian Associated Press, police allege that Ghumman emailed officials in Qatar about Sayce.
She was subsequently detained after arriving at Doha International Airport.
The more specific allegation, reported by The Herald Sun and subsequently by Dexerto, is that officials were told Sayce was carrying drugs concealed in her chess pieces.
That distinction matters.
The allegation is that information was supplied to Qatari authorities. It is not an allegation that Sayce actually possessed drugs. The court heard that she was detained, while the claim that false information about drugs was supplied forms part of the prosecution case against Ghumman and has not been established as fact.
The incident nevertheless became one of the most unusual elements of the prosecution’s case, because it allegedly connected the stalking investigation with Sayce’s international movements.
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Iceland was also drawn into the alleged campaign
Qatar was not the only country mentioned during the bail proceedings.
Police also told the Victorian court that Ghumman allegedly contacted the Icelandic Chess Federation.
AAP reported that Sayce was subsequently detained again in Iceland following a complaint.
For a competitive chess player with an international tournament schedule, travel information can be particularly significant. Sayce had already established herself not only as a Twitch streamer but also as an active competitive player.
She competed at the 2026 Reykjavik Open, where official tournament records list her as a Woman Candidate Master, or WCM, representing Australia.
Her international chess career therefore existed independently of the current criminal allegations, with tournament records documenting her participation overseas.
The prosecution now alleges that information about those movements formed part of a wider pattern of conduct.
Who is Hannah Sayce, the Twitch chess streamer?
Hannah Sayce is an Australian chess streamer based in Melbourne who became known for documenting her progress as she developed as a competitive chess player.
Her streaming career began in 2021, according to Chess.com.
In December 2025, Chess.com named Sayce its Creator of the Month for November 2025, highlighting the rapid development of both her chess and her online community.
Her career has combined competitive chess with livestreaming and interaction with viewers. Over time, that public presence gave audiences access to parts of her journey as a player.
Sayce later earned the Woman Candidate Master title, a recognised FIDE chess title.
Her participation in the 2026 Reykjavik Open further reflected her international involvement in chess. Official tournament records list her as a WCM from Australia.
That public profile is relevant to the present case because police allege that Ghumman gathered information not only about Sayce but also about her relationships, movements and travel plans.
Police also allege threats involving artificial intelligence
The bail hearing contained another unusual allegation involving technology.
According to AAP’s report, Ghumman allegedly threatened to use artificial intelligence to monitor Sayce and obtain information about her.
The allegations reportedly included references to using AI to collect information from the internet and continue monitoring her activity.
Prosecutors also allege that he attempted to prevent Sayce from pursuing criminal charges.
Again, these details are allegations presented during an active criminal proceeding. They are not findings that Ghumman committed the conduct described.
The alleged use of AI adds another dimension to a case that prosecutors say already involved extensive information-gathering. But Justice Fox’s bail decision ultimately concerned the overall material before the court and the risks associated with releasing Ghumman, rather than determining his guilt.
Ghumman was arrested at his Melbourne cafe
The allegations eventually led to Ghumman’s arrest.
According to court reporting, he was arrested at his cafe in Melbourne’s Burnley area on May 1, 2026.
He was subsequently charged with 35 offences.
The charges include stalking and intimidation, along with allegations concerning interference with the criminal justice process. One of the allegations involves an attempt to interfere with the course of justice.
Ghumman denies the allegations and intends to take the matter to trial.
That denial remains central to the current legal position. The charges are accusations, and criminal responsibility has not been established.
Why the Victorian Supreme Court refused bail
The question of bail became particularly important because prosecutors alleged that the conduct continued despite the intervention order obtained by Sayce.
During the September 23 hearing, Justice Amanda Fox refused bail.
The judge found that releasing Ghumman would present an unacceptable risk to Sayce’s safety and could create a risk of interference with witnesses.
AAP reported that the judge considered the alleged conduct organised and persistent.
The description of the alleged offending as โmethodical and plannedโ reflected the court’s assessment of the material relevant to the bail application.
But the decision should not be confused with a finding of guilt.
A bail hearing determines whether a person can be safely released while criminal proceedings continue and whether conditions can adequately manage identified risks. It does not decide whether the accused ultimately committed the offences.
Ghumman therefore remains in custody while the case progresses.
His previous conviction involving another woman has also resurfaced
The current proceedings have also brought attention to Ghumman’s previous criminal history.
In a separate case in South Africa involving another woman, Ghumman was previously convicted of offences including attempted murder and other offences connected to an earlier campaign.
Contemporary ABC reporting from 2012 records that he was sentenced to nine years.
That case involved a different alleged victim and occurred many years before the current allegations involving Sayce.
The previous conviction is part of Ghumman’s history, but it does not establish that he committed the offences currently alleged against him. Those charges must be determined independently through the Australian court process.
Why the Hannah Sayce case has attracted attention
The case has drawn particular attention because Sayce’s career exists largely in public view.
Chess.com described her streaming journey as beginning in 2021, when she started broadcasting her progress as she worked to improve as a competitive player.
Her rise combined chess improvement, competition and a growing online community.
For creators, that public-facing career can naturally make certain aspects of their professional lives visible, including tournament appearances, public events and travel.
But prosecutors allege that the conduct in this case went considerably further than ordinary interaction between a streamer and an audience.
Police allege that Ghumman deliberately collected personal information about Sayce and people close to her, even after an intervention order had been obtained.
The alleged involvement of overseas authorities in Qatar and Iceland has made the case particularly unusual.
According to the prosecution allegations, the campaign was not confined to online spaces or to Australia. It allegedly followed Sayce into parts of her international travel and chess career.
What happens next in the stalking case?
Ghumman remains in custody following the Victorian Supreme Court’s September 23 decision to refuse bail.
The matter is expected to return to court in October, while the prosecution and defence continue preparing the case.
For now, the allegations remain allegations.
Ghumman denies the charges and intends to contest them at trial. There has been no finding that he committed the offences alleged against him.
Conclusion
The Hannah Sayce stalking case has developed from allegations of persistent information-gathering into a wider criminal proceeding involving 35 charges, an intervention order, alleged intimidation, international authorities and claims involving artificial intelligence.
Police allege the conduct continued for more than two years and was organised enough to warrant serious concern. Justice Amanda Fox has now refused bail after identifying risks to Sayce’s safety and to witnesses.
Yet the central legal question remains unresolved. Ghumman has denied the allegations, and the prosecution will still have to prove its case through the Australian court process.
As the matter moves toward further proceedings in October, Sayce’s career as a chess streamer and international competitor remains an important part of the storyโbut the allegations against Ghumman will ultimately be determined in court.
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Source and research disclaimer
This article has been prepared based on the information and sources provided for this report, including Australian Associated Press, Chess.com, official Reykjavik Open tournament records, ABC News and Dexerto. The article reflects the information available from those sources and preserves the distinction between established information, reported material, allegations and court proceedings. The charges against Shumsheer Singh Ghumman have not been proven in court, he denies the allegations, and the legal proceedings may result in further developments or changes to the information presented here.
Sources
- Australian Associated Press โ โ’Concerning’ steps taken by chess pro’s alleged stalkerโ
- Chess.com โ Hannah Sayce: Creator of the Month
- Chess.com โ Hannah Sayce ChessTV profile
- Reykjavik Open 2026 player records
- ABC News โ Previous court case involving Shumsheer Singh Ghumman
- ABC News โ 2011 report on Ghumman’s previous arrest
- Dexerto โ โMan charged with stalking Twitch chess streamer and making false drugs report about herโ
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @hannahsayce
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