Hikaru Nakamura drops major hint on future in Classical chess: 'If I don’t play well in Norway or the World Cup...'

American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura added that his focus currently is on the unpredictable Freestyle Chess format as well as on the ESports World Cup later this year, and that the Classical format is no longer a priority. read more

American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has stated that he will make a final decision on his future in the Classical format after analysing his performance in Norway Chess and the World Cup later this year. Reuters

It’s not just Magnus Carlsen who has been talking about walking away from the Classical format for good. American Grandmaster and popular streamer Hikaru Nakamura, who sits just behind the top-ranked Carlsen on the FIDE ratings, too had stated he was considering quitting the Classical format after his defeat against Javokhir Sindarov in the quarter-finals of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour event in Weissenhaus.

Three days after making the statement that made headlines across the chess world, which some perceive as another attack on FIDE and the traditional format, the world Fischer Random champion insists he meant what he said and continues to stand by it.

Advertisement

Also Read | Nakamura speaks on FIDE vs Freestyle Chess debate: ‘Both sides acted like children’

Nakamura added that thoughts of retiring from the Classical format after losing 1.5-2.5 to Uzbekistani GM Sindarov on Monday wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing – he has been considering it for a while now.

“When I make these comments, it has absolutely nothing to do with say drama or trying to create a clip. It’s the way that I feel. This is something that has been on my mind for a long time now, so I don’t have any difference in opinion. If I don’t play well in Norway or the World Cup, I’m going to call it as far as regular Classical chess goes.

“Even if obviously I’m in a better mood than I was a couple of days ago, the situation hasn’t changed whatsoever. I just kind of want to enjoy it,” Nakamura said in an interview on Take Take Take after beating Sindarov’s compatriot Nodirbek Abdusattorov in Game 1 of their fifth-place playoff match on Thursday.

Also Read | Carlsen says he won’t participate in FIDE events: ‘As of now, it’s completely out of the question’

The 37-year-old added that watching a documentary on Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer helped give him perspective on when to call time on his career.

“Not so long ago I watched this documentary on Roger Federer and his retirement. I’m not going to pretend I’m anywhere near the same league as Federer in relation to tennis or chess. But still, watching something like that, you kind of have to know when that time is coming and for me, with all the things that I do, the amount of preparation that I can do for Classical chess is a lot less than everybody else.

Advertisement

“I made this comment yesterday about working smarter as opposed to working harder on one of the other interviews, and I try to do that to the best of my ability. But still, when I compare the amount of work that I’m putting in versus the younger kids, it’s not at the same level,” he added.

Also Read | Nakamura heaps praise on India’s chess ecosystem: ‘Everything is the way it should be’

As for the format that he’s most focussed on, Nakamura mentioned the Freestyle Chess that he is currently participating in at the Weissenhaus Private Nature Luxury Resort in northern Germany as well as the ESports World Cup later this year.

Advertisement

“And so for me, my big focus is on the Freestyle Series but also for the upcoming qualifiers for the ESports World Cup, and that’s actually my biggest focus. It’s not on Classical chess. I know a lot of people aren’t going to like that I’m talking about Classical chess this way, but that’s how I feel and my opinion hasn’t changed even if I’m not angry right now,” Nakamura added.

Click here to read article