Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 7: The chess world witnessed a dramatic and controversial moment when Japan-born American GM Hikaru Nakamura defeated Indian GM Gukesh Dommaraju, securing a 5-0 victory for Team USA over Team India at the Checkmate: USA vs India event.

The match took a fiery turn after Nakamura grabbed Gukesh’s king, tossed it into a cheering crowd, and waved in celebration, an act that quickly went viral on social media. Fans and experts were divided, with many calling the celebration disrespectful.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky criticised the move, writing on X, “The event was a show. Fans were ecstatic. Players were encouraged to behave accordingly. All true. Now, for better or worse, name me one top player who would do what Hikaru did.”

Checkmate organisers responded with a tongue-in-cheek statement, admitting that players were “forced to have fun, to please the crowd and to forego the FIDE Etiquette” and apologised if the players, live audience, and online viewers had a good time.

On the board, the game began with a solid draw, followed by a five-minute game where Nakamura opened with the crowd-pleasing 1.b4. Despite being outplayed initially and with both players under intense time pressure, Gukesh blundered into a mate in one, giving Team USA the final win.

Former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik condemned Nakamura’s act as “childish” and “tasteless,” noting that it appeared offensive and provocative, especially against the reigning World Champion.

The match, meant to entertain, has reignited discussions about sportsmanship and etiquette in chess, as fans continue to debate the limits of showmanship on the global stage.