'No Big...': Nihal Sarin Responds After Opponent Emin Ohanyan’s Middle Finger Gesture

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 13:55 IST

Nihal Sarin reacts after opponent showed the middle finger on camera after losing to the Indian.

Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has responded after a tense moment during an online match triggered a controversy. The incident took place during a Titled Tuesday game on the Take Take Take app, where Nihal faced Armenian Grandmaster Emin Ohanyan in a close blitz battle.

After the game ended, a video showed Ohanyan making an offensive hand gesture toward the screen. The clip was shared online and drew strong reactions from fans, many of whom came out in support of Nihal.

Nihal though said, he took no offense.

He later addressed the incident on X (formerly Twitter).

“No big deal. Regarding the recent incident, I want to clarify that I was not offended. Things happen in the heat of the moment," he wrote.

His calm response stood out, especially as several users had already criticised Ohanyan for his reaction.

Nihal made it clear that he did not want the issue to be blown out of proportion.

A Tense Endgame Decided The Match 

The incident happened after a tight endgame where both players were under intense time pressure. Nihal had a rook and a pawn, while Ohanyan had a bishop and a pawn.

Even though the Indian had slightly less time on the clock, he held a better position on the board.

Both players were waiting for a mistake. That moment came when Ohanyan made a move expecting a certain reply. Nihal quickly spotted the error and captured the bishop, which secured the win.

Soon after realising what had happened, Ohanyan stood up, showed his middle finger toward the screen, and walked away.

Organisers Issue Clarification 

The Take Take Take app shared the clip on social media with the caption, “we’ve all been there."

The video received heavy criticism, with many calling the gesture inappropriate. The platform later removed the video and released a note explaining its position.

“We don’t interpret the hand gestures to be towards Nihal, but towards the computer/game itself," the organisers wrote. “If it was intended towards Nihal, we obviously do not condone that or want to normalize it. However, a little rage after losing a game is not out of the ordinary."

News sports chess 'No Big...': Nihal Sarin Responds After Opponent Emin Ohanyan’s Middle Finger Gesture

Read More