'But First, Let Me Reset': Gukesh's Classy Reaction To Hikaru Nakamura's King-Toss Gimmick

Last Updated:October 06, 2025, 14:46 IST

While the attention was on Nakamura, Gukesh took the classy route in his post-game reaction as the teenager was see rearranging the board despite his defeat.

Hikaru Nakamura beat D Gukesh at the Checkmate: India vs USA. (X)

American GM Hikaru Nakamura created headlines for tossing Gukesh’s King into the crowd following his win over the World Champion that also confirmed USA’s 5-0 win over India at the Checkmate event in Arlington on Saturday.

While the attention was on Nakamura, Gukesh took the classy route in his post-game reaction as the teenager was see rearranging the board, probably with the exception of the King, despite his defeat.

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Despite multiple tense moments and opportunities for both teams to claim victory, Team USA rose to the occasion, securing several crucial wins. The competition featured 10-minute, 5-minute, and 1-minute chess games. GM Nakamura concluded the event with a win in bullet chess against World Champion Gukesh.

The competition consisted of five rounds, with each round featuring a USA vs. India pairing. Each player had 10 minutes, with a one-second increment after the clock falls below one minute. Games continued until checkmate, stalemate, or flag.

Team USA played with White in all games held in Arlington, while India had White in the return leg. If a game ended in a draw, it moved to a five-minute overtime game, followed by a one-minute shootout, and then additional one-minute games until a winner was determined.

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Earlier in the event, Fabiano Caruana defeated Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi, giving his team the lead. The event showcased four of the world’s top ten players, leading women players, youth prodigies, and two of the most popular chess streamers, whose combined audiences exceed ten million followers.

The competition consisted of five rounds, with each round featuring a USA vs. India pairing. Each player had 10 minutes, with a one-second increment after the clock falls below one minute. Games continued until checkmate, stalemate, or flag.

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