New Delhi: A post-game celebration by Hikaru Nakamura has ignited a fierce backlash across the global chess community. The American Grandmaster, known for his flamboyant persona both on and off the board, courted controversy after throwing World Champion D Gukesh’s king into the crowd during the exhibition event Checkmate: USA vs India.
What was meant to be a light-hearted show of entertainment quickly spiralled into a storm of criticism. Former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik tore into Nakamura, calling his gesture “vulgar” and “a symptom of the degradation of modern chess.”
“This is not just vulgarity, but already a diagnosis of degradation of modern chess,” Kramnik wrote on X, expressing visible disgust at the spectacle.
Это не просто пошлость, а уже диагноз, современным шахматам
This is not just vulgarity, but already a diagnosis of degradation of the modern chess pic.twitter.com/e4uvENP86K
— Vladimir Kramnik (@VBkramnik) October 5, 2025
Kramnik Calls It Provocative
Kramnik, who has long been a voice for traditional values in the game, accused Nakamura of being provocative towards Gukesh, the reigning World Champion.
“I don’t know who came up with this childish, tasteless act,” he added. “Even if it wasn’t intended to humiliate Gukesh, using the opponent’s king like that was offensive — especially against the World Champion.”
When a fan tried to justify the incident as being organiser-driven, Kramnik’s response was cutting:
“Even worse if planned. Taking pants off would attract more attention — should players do it therefore? It’s about inner ethics.”
Kevin Goh Wei Ming Backs Kramnik
Singaporean Grandmaster Kevin Goh Wei Ming, who had earlier organised the championship where Gukesh claimed his world title, also sided with Kramnik.
“If the future of chess is one where it’s acceptable behaviour to toss opponents’ pieces into the crowd, I’m not sure I want anything to do with it,” Goh posted.
Organisers Under Fire Too
Popular YouTuber and International Master Levy Rozman (GothamChess) later claimed that the dramatic “king toss” was not Nakamura’s idea, but part of an organiser-planned entertainment stunt.
“The winner was supposed to toss the king into the fans. It was for the entertainment angle,” Rozman explained during a live stream. “Hikaru spoke to Gukesh later and clarified no disrespect was intended.”
But despite the clarification, the optics didn’t sit well with purists who saw the move as a stain on chess’s decorum — a game historically known for its grace and gentlemanly conduct.
A Viral Moment That Split the Chess World
The clip, now widely shared on social media, has divided fans. While some defended Nakamura for “playing to the crowd,” others argued it undermines the very spirit of sportsmanship chess stands for.
As the debate rages, one thing is clear — what was meant to be a fun finale to a friendly exhibition has instead turned into a serious discussion about ethics, entertainment, and the evolving face of modern chess.
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