A Gross Protuberance

Hikaru Nakamura appreciation post. He is getting way too much disrespect right now. I know he has always had haters because of how directly he speaks and because of some of his actions over the years. But I also think qualifying for the Candidates through those Mickey Mouse events rubbed a lot of chess fans the wrong way, and he is paying the price for that now. Honestly, I think if he had played Grand Swiss and a few more serious classical events in 2025, he would have come into this tournament in much better shape. I also think part of the issue is motivation. It feels like he wanted to play the Candidates mainly because it gave him a path to the World Championship, not because he loves classical chess at this point. And when you already seem half-detached from classical, it is very hard to show up to the toughest event in the world and perform at your best. Because he is having a bad event, everything he says is now being judged through the lens of losing. My feed is full of criticism. When Hikaru criticized the anti-cheating measures, I think he had a point. When he criticized his own team for missing 12...0-0, I think he had a point there, too. But once a player is losing, people stop listening to the argument and start attacking the person. That is exactly what is happening here. I am not even a big Hikaru fan. But people should remember who he is. He is a legendary player. His online chess over the last 20 years is unmatched. In classical chess, he crossed 2800 twice. Only 16 players in history have ever reached that level, and not all of them made it back after dropping below it. Hikaru did. Around 2020, when he became more of a streamer, a lot of people stopped taking him seriously as a top player. Then he came back in 2022 and proved again that he is exceptional. And beyond that, his work as a streamer has been huge for chess. He brought a massive number of new people into the game. He has also consistently brought attention to issues inside the chess world and forced conversations that others would rather avoid. You do not have to like Hikaru. I am not saying that. But the amount of disrespect he gets is absurd. He is one of the most important chess figures of his era.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Boston's first Holocaust Museum will open this year at 125 Tremont Street. It will feature real artifacts, survivor stories, and interactive exhibits designed to confront hate and make sure history is never repeated.