Hikaru Nakamura spends 67 minutes on single move before losing Candidates match

Hikaru Nakamura uses over an hour on one move but loses to Javokhir Sindarov in Candidates match

Hikaru Nakamura spent more than an hour deliberating over a single move during a match at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, before ultimately losing the game to Javokhir Sindarov.

The American grandmaster, currently ranked second in the world, faced Sindarov in a high-level encounter where he fell behind early.

The turning point came during his 13th move, when Nakamura paused for 67 minutes and 44 seconds before making his decision.

Under tournament rules, players are allocated 120 minutes to complete their first 40 moves. Nakamura’s extended calculation meant he used more than half of his available time on a single turn, placing him at a significant disadvantage for the remainder of the match.

The move itself was later described as an “inaccuracy,” a term used in chess to indicate a decision that weakens a player’s position compared to optimal play. According to Sportstar, the choice reduced Nakamura’s standing on the board and allowed his opponent to capitalise.

Sindarov subsequently gained the upper hand and secured victory. Reflecting on the moment after the match, he said, “He just thought for one hour and played the wrong move. And after this, I took this advantage and played very well in my opinion.”

While this is common at the elite level of chess, the duration of this decision stands out. It has been identified as the second-longest single move in the tournament’s history, behind Alexander Grischuk, who reportedly spent 72 minutes on a move during a 2021 match.