Chess star Hikaru responds to backlash over throwing king piece after win

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After winning against Gukesh at the Checkmate: USA vs India event, chess player Hikaru Nakamura addressed criticism he received for tossing one of his king pieces.

I’ve noticed how chess has exploded online lately! Players like Hikaru and Magnus Carlsen have become huge stars by sharing content and streaming their games, and it’s really exciting to see chess trying to build on that popularity and reach even more people.

On October 5th, a chess exhibition match called Checkmate: USA vs India took place, featuring five top American players competing against five of India’s best. The event concluded with a head-to-head game between Hikaru and Gukesh, where Hikaru ultimately defeated the young grandmaster with a checkmate.

When Hikaru achieved checkmate, he playfully threw Gukesh’s king piece into the audience. While it was a joyful moment, some people criticized the grandmaster, calling it disrespectful to the game or simply a poor display of sportsmanship.

Hikaru Nakamura really crossed the line by throwing his much younger opponent’s chess piece into the audience – not a very respectful move. It’s clear Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru have a strong dislike for India’s Gukesh. #Chess

— Meru (@MeruOnX) October 5, 2025

Hikaru addresses throwing king after beating Gukesh

However, the Grandmaster, who also streams on Kick, responded to it on his YouTube channel.

He described the event as one of the most enjoyable in-person experiences of his long chess career. He explained that chess is often a solitary pursuit, and it’s rare to share victories with others and receive recognition for hard work. He also noted that even the Indian players seemed to have a good time, despite their loss.

Hikaru also shared a GIF from the movie *Gladiator* with the message “Are you not entertained?” He also re-posted a video of his teammate, Levy Rozman, explaining that event organizers had actually encouraged the enthusiastic celebrations.

— Hikaru Nakamura (@GMHikaru) October 5, 2025

Okay, so the event organizers finally spoke up about all the complaints, and honestly, it was a bit of a weird apology. They basically admitted they *made* us players try to look like we were having fun for the audience, and that they told us to ignore proper chess etiquette. It felt less like an apology and more like a confession, you know?

We apologize if anyone enjoyed the event, including the players, those watching in person, and the many people online.

That post got a response from Hikaru, who reposted it with some laughing emojis on top.

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2025-10-06 15:19