October 6, 2025 5:01 PM

Nakamura sparks controversy after tossing Gukesh’s king in Checkmate: USA vs India event

The chess world on Sunday was stirred by controversy when Japan-born American GM Hikaru Nakamura defeated world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, securing a 5-0 victory for Team USA over Team India at the Checkmate: USA vs India event. After making his winning move, Hikaru stood up, grabbed Gukesh's king, tossed it into the cheering crowd, and waved his arms in celebration. The act sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many calling his celebration disrespectful. A video of Nakamura’s gesture...