Chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura responded to some online backlash over him throwing away a king piece after defeating Gukesh at the Checkmate: USA vs India event.
A number of Chess’s biggest names, like Hikaru and Magnus Carlsen, have become online stars too as they’ve created plenty of content around the game and their events. As such, the Chess world has looked to expand on that newfound popularity.
On October 5, five of the United States’ best players took on five of India’s biggest chess stars in the Checkmate: USA vs India exhibition. It culminated in a one-on-one clash between Hikaru and Gukesh, with Hikaru check-mating the young grandmaster.
As the checkmate came in, Hikaru picked up Gukesh’s king and tossed it into the crowd. The exuberant celebration saw the Chess grandmaster come under some criticism, too. Some said it was “disrespecting chess,” others mocked Hikaru for a “real classy move.”
Hikaru addresses throwing king after beating Gukesh
However, the Grandmaster, who also streams on Kick, responded to it on his YouTube channel.
“This was one of the best in-person experiences I have had as someone who has been playing chess for a very long time,” he said in his breakdown of the win. “We are so used to celebrating our victories by ourselves. Chess can be such a lonely job, you don’t feel any validation for what you are doing. Even the Indian players, despite losing, had a great time.”
On top of that, Hikaru posted an “Are you not entertained?” gif from Gladiator, as well as reposting a clip of his teammate, Levy Rozman, telling viewers that the event organizers encouraged the over-the-top celebrations.
The organizers responded to some of the backlash too, adding: “On behalf of the organizers, we admit having forced the players to have fun, to please the crowd, and to forego the FIDE Etiquette.
“We sincerely apologize if the players, the live audience and the vast majority of online viewers had a good time.”
That post got a response from Hikaru, who reposted it with some laughing emojis on top.
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