Home / Sports / Nakamura's Fiery Celebration Sparks Outrage After Crushing World Champ Gukesh
Nakamura's Fiery Celebration Sparks Outrage After Crushing World Champ Gukesh
5 Oct
Summary
- USA dominates India 5-0 in 'Checkmate' chess event
- Hikaru Nakamura defeats world champion D Gukesh
- Nakamura's post-match gesture of throwing Gukesh's king piece divides social media
On October 5th, 2025, the USA dominated India 5-0 in the opening leg of the 'Checkmate' chess event held in Arlington. However, it was Hikaru Nakamura's post-match celebration that stole the spotlight and divided opinion on social media.
Facing world champion D Gukesh in the headline game, Nakamura, the World No. 2 player with a FIDE rating of 2816, delivered a clinical performance to outplay the 19-year-old Indian prodigy. The American team displayed composure under pressure to sweep the tie, while India, playing with the black pieces, struggled to find rhythm across the boards.
Alongside Nakamura's victory over Gukesh, the USA team secured wins in the other matches as well. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi went down to Fabiano Caruana, Divya Deshmukh was upset by Carissa Yip, International Master Levy Rozman defeated Sagar Shah, and young Ethan Vaz lost to Tani Adewumi.
However, it was Nakamura's celebration that drew widespread attention. Moments after sealing his win, he threw Gukesh's king piece towards the crowd, triggering sharp reactions online. While some argued that the event organizers may have permitted such light theatrics, many fans deemed the act unnecessary and disrespectful.
Despite the controversy, Gukesh received strong support from global chess followers, who praised his composure and competitive spirit. The reigning world champion, currently ranked World No. 11, is expected to lead India's fightback when the second leg of Checkmate takes place on home soil. The return match in India now promises an intense rematch, both on and off the board.
