#24. Hikaru Nakamura Talks About Streaming, His Relationship With Magnus, And The Future Of Chess!

Jun 14, 2024

American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura discusses the rise of non-classical tournament play, the importance of sponsors in chess, and his journey as a top online chess content creator. He reflects on the impact of fan support, humorous mispronunciations in chess, and the future trends in the game. Nakamura also navigates the dynamics of rivalry, tournament participation, and personal relationships in chess, while exploring the evolution of chess tournaments and future prospects for the game.

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INSIGHT

Chess Format Divisions

Chess is divided between online and over-the-board formats with distinct preferences.
Classical chess remains enjoyable but is diminishing in frequency compared to rapid and blitz formats.

INSIGHT

Commercial Sponsorship Challenges

Commercial sponsors depend on sustained online viewership for chess growth.
Wealthy individual sponsors are unstable, unlike potential corporate backers.

ANECDOTE

Beginner to Sponsored Streamer

Hikaru began streaming for entertainment in 2019 and ramped up during the pandemic.
June 2020 marked the onset of massive sponsorship opportunities for him.

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This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features an interview with American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. One of the few bona fide chess superstars of the current era, Hikaru is the world’s 3rd ranked player with a June 2024 FIDE rating of 2794, and was one of the frontrunners to win this year’s Candidates Tournament. Other over-the-board successes include five US titles and a victory in the 2022 Fischer Random World Championship.

In addition to his achievements as a player, Hikaru has built up a highly lucrative career as an online chess content creator, streaming live games and providing real-time analyses of top-level games, including his own. With his exciting style of play, extraverted personality and legitimate world-class playing strength, Hikaru has emerged from the 2020’s chess boom as perhaps the biggest voice in online chess, all the while maintaining (and some would say improving) his over-the-board performance.

While participating in the recent Norway Chess tournament, Hikaru sat down with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam for an impromptu podcast. Armed with only a mobile phone and a quiet room, Dirk Jan and Hikaru nonetheless managed to create an engaging piece of chess content that we’re sure the listener will enjoy!

0:00 – Intro

1:34 – How does Hikaru feel about the increasing prevalence of non-classical tournament play, like blitz, rapid and Fischerandom?

3:57 – The importance of sponsors and online viewership to further the growth of chess

6:14 – The start of Hikaru’s streaming career

8:25 – How does Hikaru stay motivated and energetic for his online content?

11:03 – Streaming during big tournaments

13:53 – How does Hikaru cope with losses?

15:15 – How does Hikaru’s newfound wealth affect his play?

19:56 – Why some players get “stuck” in chess

23:23 – Hikaru gives Dirk Jan a proper, YouTube-style introduction

23:35 – Is it hard for Hikaru to recap his own losses?

27:23 – The origins of “Gucci Piano” and “Fiancheeto”

29:27 – AD BREAK

30:05 – How long will the current chess boom last?

32:49 – Does Hikaru ever get too caught up in social media numbers?

34:18 – The relative lack of “big stars” in chess

36:23 – Hikaru’s personal and professional relationship with Magnus

38:22 – Hikaru’s criticism of the classical + Armageddon format used at Norway Chess

40:25 – Why does Hikaru like classical so much?

41:35 – Hikaru’s expectations for up-and-comers like Pragg, Erigaisi and Abdusattorov

46:03 – Fischerandom

47:00 – Indian chess

49:39 – Will Hikaru actually retire at 40?

53:18 – Outro