Why Hikaru Nakamura Threw D. Gukesh’s Chess King Into the Crowd During ‘Checkmate: USA vs India
A surprising moment stole the spotlight at the exhibition event Checkmate: USA vs India at Esports Stadium Arlington when Hikaru Nakamura threw D Gukesh ’s king into the crowd after clinching a checkmate. As the 37-year-old rounded off Team USA’s 5-0 victory, Nakamura celebrated wildly, pumping his fist and sending the king flying toward the fans. Gukesh, meanwhile, wore a sheepish smile as he watched the dramatic moment unfold.
The move sparked strong reactions online, as tossing the king into the crowd is highly unconventional in chess. Fans drew parallels to Magnus Carlsen smashing his fist after losing to Gukesh at Norway Chess, showing that chess celebrations rarely get this theatrical.
Watch The Video Here:
But why did Nakamura behave this way? According to YouTuber Levy Rozman (Gotham Chess), the organisers encouraged it.
“Without context, it will look like an unprovoked gesture. But we were encouraged by the organisers to do that stuff. I forgot that if I won my game against ChessBase India’s Sagar Shah, or he won, we were supposed to break the king. It was for the entertainment angle," Rozman explained on YouTube.
He added, "The winner of Gukesh and Hikaru’s game was supposed to toss the king into the fans. I don’t know if Gukesh would have done that. Hikaru spoke to Gukesh later and explained that it was all for show and no disrespect was meant.”
The event itself was designed to thrill fans. Featuring five-player teams from both India and the USA, the exhibition included WWE-style player announcements, emphasising entertainment. Before the tournament, Gukesh said, “I don’t think I have ever played with so much audience in a stadium and such energy in the arena," according to The Indian Express.
On his part, Nakamura described the event as one of his most memorable experiences, praising the energy of the large audience. “This was one of the best in-person experiences I have had as someone who has been playing chess for a very long time. We are so used to celebrating our victories by ourselves… chess can be such a lonely job, you don’t feel any validation for what you are doing," he said on his YouTube channel.
In the end, the king toss was part of the showmanship, highlighting a rare, theatrical side of chess that fans won’t soon forget.
The move sparked strong reactions online, as tossing the king into the crowd is highly unconventional in chess. Fans drew parallels to Magnus Carlsen smashing his fist after losing to Gukesh at Norway Chess, showing that chess celebrations rarely get this theatrical.
Watch The Video Here:
But why did Nakamura behave this way? According to YouTuber Levy Rozman (Gotham Chess), the organisers encouraged it.
“Without context, it will look like an unprovoked gesture. But we were encouraged by the organisers to do that stuff. I forgot that if I won my game against ChessBase India’s Sagar Shah, or he won, we were supposed to break the king. It was for the entertainment angle," Rozman explained on YouTube.
He added, "The winner of Gukesh and Hikaru’s game was supposed to toss the king into the fans. I don’t know if Gukesh would have done that. Hikaru spoke to Gukesh later and explained that it was all for show and no disrespect was meant.”
The event itself was designed to thrill fans. Featuring five-player teams from both India and the USA, the exhibition included WWE-style player announcements, emphasising entertainment. Before the tournament, Gukesh said, “I don’t think I have ever played with so much audience in a stadium and such energy in the arena," according to The Indian Express.
On his part, Nakamura described the event as one of his most memorable experiences, praising the energy of the large audience. “This was one of the best in-person experiences I have had as someone who has been playing chess for a very long time. We are so used to celebrating our victories by ourselves… chess can be such a lonely job, you don’t feel any validation for what you are doing," he said on his YouTube channel.
In the end, the king toss was part of the showmanship, highlighting a rare, theatrical side of chess that fans won’t soon forget.
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