USA GM Hikaru Nakamura criticizes FIDE
NEW DELHI: American No. 2 grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has criticized the FIDE, the world governing body for chess, over what he sees as excessive anti-cheating measures in the 2026 Candidates Tournament in Cyprus.
Nakamura opened his fourth contest with a loss to fellow American Fabiano Caruana, and took to his YouTube channel with Norwegian general manager John Ludwig Hammer and WIM’s Fiona Steele-Anthony of Luxembourg to vent his frustration.“My general view on the issue of delays and mass cheating and all that stuff is that I honestly think this is nonsense,” Nakamura said. “Given the number of devices they have to screen players in the room, this is all complete nonsense.
I really do.
He watches
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The chess star criticized the security measures, jokingly questioning the level of scrutiny. “It’s not that I’m having any problems with it,” he said. “I just think the concerns expressed by some players are completely overblown. I’ll be honest… They scan us before the game. They scan us after the game. They have a metal detector. They have a variety of other separate scanners. I mean, who are we? Are we like Mossad agents inside Iran or something? Come on, we’re chess players! Let’s be real.”
When asked if he had raised his concerns with the FIDE, Nakamura admitted that he had not. He added: “The FIDE? No, of course, I did not express that opinion to the Federation. I don’t really see a reason for that. When I look at the FIDE or the things that are being done, I have no use in arguing with them or saying anything.”“My general view is that the whole thing is overrated. And in a smaller Open where you don’t have all these scanners and equipment, I can understand the concerns.
But at an event like this, where everyone is in one room, there are judges watching everyone, cameras watching everyone… I mean, without inside help, nothing can happen. “I just think it’s all bullshit.”Read also: “We saw tanks on the road”: What it’s like to play chess amid regional conflictNakamura started the tournament with 1.5 points from four rounds, sharing scores with Anish Giri, Andriy Isipenko and Wei Yi after being defeated in the opening match. The group is currently led by Javokhir Sindarov, who has already achieved three wins in four rounds.