Hikaru Nakamura Breaks Silence After Backlash for Throwing Gukesh’s King Throughout Exhibition Match

Hikaru Nakamura made a controversial act after Team USA beat Team India in an exhibition match in Arlington, Texas. The act acquired completely different reactions on-line, with some Indian followers and retired gamers branding it “disrespectful” to Gukesh and the sport.

The Japanese-American chess GM responded to the criticism he is going through proper now.

Hikaru Nakamura Explains the Viral Moment

Nakamura responded to the response by taking to his YouTube stream to make clear that the transfer was inside the context of a light-hearted exhibition and never an insult.

According to the 37-year-old participant, occasion organizers had urged gamers to carry out amusing stunts, similar to throwing and even shattering the king, to liven the present for the viewers. That’s a behind-the-scenes dialogue that the viewers have no idea.

“It was not an insult… If it were a serious event, like the Candidates, of course you would never do such a thing. Nobody would! It doesn’t matter if it was Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann, Anish Giri, or me. But this was a purely entertainment event.”

He added that no skilled chess participant, whether or not it is Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann, Anish Giri, or himself, would ever behave that method in an official event.

Nakamura Explains Why He Threw the King

Discussing the precise motion of hurling the king, Nakamura defined that he made an underhand throw in order that nobody within the viewers can be harm. Because of the king’s form, he could not really “throw it like a baseball.” If he threw it like he was in MLB, he may need injured somebody.

Nakamura Suggests Pleasurable Challenge to Gukesh

Serving up a dose of humor, Nakamura joked that if there’s a rematch in India, Gukesh should have fun his win in a equally entertaining method, Firstpost reported. He urged the Indian GM to play Bollywood music and dance on the chessboard earlier than him if Gukesh wins.

For Nakamura, this isn’t an insulting act. It’s about sportsmanship and showmanship to his co-players.

Team USA beat Team India, successful 5-0 within the exhibition match.