Chess History in a Nutshell 105 – Hikaru Nakamura
Christopher Hikaru Nakamura (born December 9, 1987) has long been a fixture among the world's chess elite. In recent years, he has become widely recognized as a streamer and YouTuber, but it’s important not to overlook his impressive competitive achievements: he is a five-time U.S. Champion and a former World Champion in Fischer Random Chess, now known as "Freestyle."
Nakamura can rightfully be considered a chess prodigy. He earned his grandmaster title at the age of 15, making him the youngest American to do so at the time. With a peak rating of 2816, he ranks as the tenth highest-rated player in chess history.
He represented the United States in seven Chess Olympiads (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018), earning one team gold and two team bronze medals. He also competed in three Candidates Tournaments, placing second in 2024, fourth in 2022, and seventh in 2016.
When FIDE began publishing official rapid and blitz ratings in May 2014, Nakamura debuted as world No. 1 in both formats. Since then, he has consistently remained near the top, often trailing only Magnus Carlsen.
Since 2018, Nakamura has pursued a parallel career as a content creator, quickly gaining traction. He signed with several esports organizations, including TSM, Misfits Gaming, and later Team Falcons. Through his popular channels on Twitch, Kick, and YouTube, he has become one of the most recognizable faces in online chess, helping to drive its rapid growth in popularity.
Early in his career, Nakamura focused solely on competition. His improvement during this period was partly due to training with former world champion Garry Kasparov, who was living in the U.S. at the time. Their first training session took place in early January 2011 in New York, and the collaboration continued throughout that year.
Nakamura's finest tournament result came in 2011 when he won the prestigious Tata Steel Grandmaster A tournament in Wijk aan Zee. The field included top-tier players such as titleholder Magnus Carlsen, former world champions Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik, former FIDE champion Ruslan Ponomariov, Russian champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Chinese champion Wang Hao. The tournament had an average rating of 2740, making it a category 20 event—one of the strongest in the world. Nakamura’s victory earned him a place in the 2011 Grand Slam Masters Final alongside Carlsen, who had won the 2010 Pearl Spring Chess Tournament.
Following the win, Nakamura expressed his goal of reaching a 2800 rating by year’s end. The victory pushed his rating from 2751 to 2774, moving him from No. 10 to No. 7 on the unofficial live rating list. Kasparov hailed the result as the greatest achievement by an American chess player in over a century, even when compared with Bobby Fischer’s landmark performances.
Eventually, Nakamura’s career took a dramatic turn. As streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch grew in popularity, he was encouraged to try it as a new source of income. Initially skeptical, he quickly discovered he could draw a massive audience. His biggest strength—blitz chess—translated perfectly to online content, especially when combined with his engaging and often humorous commentary. This unique style made him a breakout success in the streaming world, earning him substantial income and a broader fanbase.
Even though he was already part of the exclusive “2800 Club,” the constant pressure to perform at the very highest level began to lift. This freedom allowed him to play more confidently and without fear of failure—ironically making him an even stronger competitor.
As of 2025, Nakamura remains at the top of the chess world. With his experience and consistency, he shows no signs of slowing down. As of the February 18 live rating list, he is ranked No. 2 in the world with a rating of 2802, just behind Magnus Carlsen.
The diagram position featured here comes from a game against Wesley So, where Nakamura employed his favorite King’s Indian Defense. In the current position, he opted for 29...Be3!? which was winning later. But objectively 29...h3+! was stronger, which could lead to a fantastic finish. Maybe you try to visualize the position after the following line, starting with 30.Kxh3 Rf2!! 31.Bxf2 Qxf2!! 32. Nxf2. Can you now provide a beautiful mate in two moves for Black?
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