Hikaru Nakamura responds to backlash after throwing king piece at chess event

Chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has responded to widespread online backlash after he threw a king piece into the crowd during his victory celebration over Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju at the Checkmate: USA vs India exhibition event.

The October 5 event featured five top players each from the United States and India, culminating in a highly anticipated match between Hikaru and Gukesh. After securing checkmate, Hikaru picked up Gukesh’s king and tossed it playfully toward the audience — a gesture that immediately went viral and divided the chess community.

While many fans found the move entertaining, others accused Hikaru of “disrespecting chess” and criticized it as unsportsmanlike behavior. Responding to the controversy on his YouTube channel, Hikaru defended his actions, explaining that the atmosphere was meant to be lighthearted and engaging.

“This was one of the best in-person experiences I’ve had,” Hikaru said. “Chess can be a lonely job, so having a moment where everyone’s celebrating together felt great. Even the Indian players had a good time.”

The Grandmaster, who also streams on Kick, further embraced the playful tone by posting an “Are you not entertained?” GIF from Gladiator on social media.

Event organizers later clarified that players were encouraged to celebrate and “please the crowd.” They humorously apologized “for forcing players to have fun” and for “foregoing FIDE etiquette.” Hikaru responded with laughing emojis, signaling he wasn’t taking the backlash too seriously.

The viral moment highlights how modern chess continues to balance tradition with a growing culture of online entertainment and personality-driven competition.