Press release by FIDE

The world's number-one and number-two chess players headlined ICE Barcelona with a rare exhibition match played entirely from memory, joined by GothamChess for commentary, insight and fan interaction.

Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, two of the world's most renowned chess grandmasters, made a special appearance on Tuesday at ICE Barcelona 2026, the International Casinos & Entertainment Expo. One of the world's largest iGaming and gaming-tech trade shows, ICE attracts tens of thousands of professionals from the global gaming and tech industries.

Understanding Material Imbalances

This DVD focuses on several types of material imbalances, such as Rook vs 2 Pieces, Queen vs 2 Rooks, and Queen vs Pieces.

The highlight of the event hosted by BETBY was a blindfold chess exhibition game between Carlsen and Nakamura, a format in which both players compete without seeing the board, relying purely on memory and calculation. To the best public knowledge, this was the first publicly staged blindfold head-to-head between the world's No. 1 and No. 2.

Playing for fun in Barcelona, Carlsen was expected by many to play the Catalan Opening but the world's No.1 instead began with 1.Nf3. Nakamura responded with the solid Agincourt Defence for the 15-minute game. The Norwegian tried to confuse his opponent with a double fianchetto setup, manoeuvring his knights aggressively and eventually winning a central pawn. But Nakamura had "seen" far ahead and, at the right moment, sacrificed a bishop to force a perpetual check.

A powerful 1.e4 Repertoire

Instead of forcing you to memorise endless lines, Raja focuses on clear plans, typical ideas, and attacking motifs that you can apply in your own games without delay. A short, focused, and practical repertoire.
Grandmaster Harshit Raja, India’s 69th GM, has created a practical and powerful 1.e4 repertoire - perfect for players who want to play aggressively without drowning in opening theory. Whether you’re playing online or over-the-board, this course gives you solid attacking weapons that are easy to learn, fun to play, and difficult for opponents to face. 
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Scandinavian Defence

"The Internet's chess teacher", Levy Rozman, provided live play-by-play commentary, explaining moves and strategies to more than a hundred spectators and making the match accessible even to casual observers. Known online as GothamChess, Rozman is an American International Master, content creator and commentator who produces daily chess content across platforms. On YouTube alone, he recently surpassed seven million subscribers.

A fireside chat with all three guests covered topics such as strategic thinking, mental discipline and the evolution of chess as both a sport and a digital entertainment medium. Spectators from all over the world were given rare insight into the minds and approaches of elite chess players.

Reflecting on how chess has evolved over the past five or six years, Nakamura said that while he had previously focused almost exclusively on his playing career, he began investing seriously in content creation in 2019, and since the pandemic, it has become his main professional focus.

Carlsen noted that he has been recognised far more widely in recent years, adding that since early 2023, chess "just kept showing up in everybody's algorithms". He also pointed out that the pandemic changed the chess world: the focus has shifted away from purely classical formats toward a more diverse landscape in which speed chess, rapid and blitz events have become much more popular.

In addition to the blindfold match and discussion, the event featured interactive exhibition games, giving spectators the chance to play against Carlsen or Nakamura in short, fun matches. All three masters played several blitz games, much to the delight of the audience.

All available games

Video webcast

Understanding Middlegame Strategies Vol.1 - 11

Master your middlegame with the complete strategy series – now available as a bundle at a reduced price. Take your chance to save and improve!
Master your middlegame with the complete strategy series – now available as a bundle at a reduced price. Take your chance to save and improve!

Master Class Vol.8 - Magnus Carlsen 2nd Edition

Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.