The Rest Is Chess: Meet the Candidates - Hikaru Nakamura

Welcome back to The Rest is Chess! This issue of the ‘Meet the Candidates’ series examines the current world number 2: Hikaru Nakamura

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As per our format on Giri, Pragg, Caruana, and Nakamura, we will focus mainly on a game of Naka’s that showcases some of the skills that moulds his reputation over the board.

Hikaru Nakamura burst onto the chess scene as an elite prodigy, becoming a Grandmaster at just 15 (the youngest American ever to do so at the time) and has remained one of the world’s top players for nearly two decades. With a peak rating of 2816 and a career-high world ranking of No. 2 , he has been a dominant force across classical, rapid, and especially blitz chess, where he has long been considered one of the very best. A five‑time U.S. Champion and the 2022 World Fischer Random Champion, Nakamura’s resume is too extensive to list without being boring. He has also become one of the most followed chess streamers on the planet. Perhaps due to his age (38), it is a pursuit that Hikaru claims is now his main profession.

However, Nakamura certainly set out to get himself in the Candidates at all costs, in his likely last good attempt at a World Championship match. In the last 2 Candidates, Hikaru came painfully close - drawing to eventual World Champion Gukesh where a win was necessary, and losing to Ding Liren in the final round where a draw would’ve had him placed above the previous World Champion and have him fight Ian Nepomniachtchi in light of Magnus Carlsen’s surprising abdication.

That’s probably why, despite the controversy, Hikaru chose to qualify via the rather outdated rating invitation. Over the last year, he had attended lesser known American state tournaments, beating players 2200 and under. Due to the minimum rating allocation per win, Hikaru was able to slowly but very surely secure the spot of 2nd in the world- this time able to capitalise on Carlsen’s withdrawal. The ordeal has generated controversy on the topic, but most criticism has landed on the doorstep of FIDE, rather than Nakamura who can’t really be blamed for taking advantage of a glaring loop hole. The now world number 2 has conceded that it’s a shady venture, but he would never insult the chess world by ever using the technique to surpass Carlsen’s rating - he just wanted that Candidates ticket.

Wesley So - Hikaru Nakamura (Sinquefield cup, 2015)

It’s rather impossible to analyse a game of Hikaru’s without considering a King’s Indian brilliance. Make no mistake, Naka enters the Candidates with a senior reputation these days of solid play and defensive grit- but this type of game serves as a stark reminder of his killer instinct.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O. Wesley So is happy to enter the mainline of the Kings Indian. It’s far within Hikaru’s comfort zone but White is doing well everywhere in main line King’s Indians.

…Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. f3 f5 11. Be3 f4 12. Bf2 g5

They’re still in the top line of theory but it’s a good stage to visualise what Black typically goes for. The kingside space and tempo gain of f4 allows ambitious advancements for Hikaru meanwhile Wesley has congregated some defensive forces around his king and will attempt to break the queenside.

13. Nd3 Ng6 14. c5 Nf6 15. Rc1 Rf7 16. Kh1 h5. A series of typical moves- a lot of queenside and kingside developments as both sides race to activate.

17. cxd6 cxd6 18. Nb5 a6. Believe it or not, only now do we stray from known territory but Black has achieved an evaluation of 0.0 according to SF, which is good going for a King’s Indian with lots of activity still to occur.

19. Na3!?

Not bad but it does give Hikaru an edge and Wesley is clearly now on his own. Better was 19.Nc3 - perusing Na4 and the b6 square.

…b5 20. Rc6 g4 21. Qc2 Qf8. Now Black’s position holds a sizeable advantage. White’s play has been correct in spirit but fails to cause any queenside upsets. Meanwhile Naka’s kingside tirade is pending.

22. Rc1 Bd7 23. Rc7 Bh6 24. Be1 h4 25. fxg4 f3!

Hikaru misses no opportunity to detonate the kingside. f3 may tactically work out, but it’s a move you must play on instinct. The goal is not to play Bxc1 - where White gives up his rook to play on Black’s dodgy structure - instead sacrifices are needed to open the game up.

26. gxf3 Nxe4!

Upon the sacrificing sentiment, Nxe4! catches Wesley off guard. Maybe Wesley missed a detail(s) in the following lines. 27. fxe4 allows a mating net with the untouchable …Rf1+! 28. Kg2 Be3 with a gorgeous and calmly assembled mating net. (29. Bxf1 h3! with checkmate to come)

27. Rd1 spares Wesley’s rook but Hikaru can continue to plough through.

Rxf3 28. Rxd7 Rf1+ 29. Kg2 Be3 with a similar mating net to that of the other line.

30. Bg3 hxg3. White tries what he can but it’s now mating by force. 31. Rxf1 Nh4+ 32. Kh3 Qh6 33. g5 Nxg5+ 34. Kg4 Nhf3

Naka finds the absolute most ruthless line. The king is dragged into the flames and there are checkmates all around.

35. Nf2 Qh4+ 36. Kf5 Rf8+ 37. Kg6 Rf6+ - a nice touch, setting up a double check and mate. Credit to Wesley for allowing the spectacle. 

38. Kxf6 Ne4+ 39. Kg6 Qg5#

A quality final position. In 2015 you couldn’t be sure this wouldn’t be your board at the end of the game when facing Hikaru Nakamura, especially in a King’s Indian.

Such a game would be Candidates heritage as it is, but a 38 year old Nakamura could still produce a touch of tactical magic at any moment.

Thanks for tuning in again for a brief dive on Hikaru Nakamura. As the Candidates unfold, expect some posts on all the action!

Thanks, J & M