Team USA defeated Team India 5-0 at the Checkmate: USA vs India event, with GM Hikaru Nakamura beating world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. After winning, Nakamura grabbed Gukesh’s king, tossed it into the crowd, and celebrated, sparking mixed reactions online. A video of the act quickly went viral.
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky criticised Nakamura on X, calling the move disrespectful and unusual for a top player. Checkmate organisers responded sarcastically, claiming players were encouraged to entertain the crowd. Nakamura reacted to the post with laughing emojis. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik labelled the act as “childish and tasteless.”
The match itself began with a balanced draw in a bishop endgame. In the five-minute game, Nakamura played aggressively with 1.b4, gaining early advantage but later falling behind. Both players faced severe time pressure, and Gukesh blundered into a mate-in-one, handing Team USA the decisive victory.
The incident reignited discussions on sportsmanship and player conduct in public events. While some defended Nakamura’s crowd engagement, many argued that gestures involving an opponent’s king were inappropriate. Chess fans worldwide debated the balance between entertainment and respect.
