On September 16, a 15-year-old rising star delivered one of the biggest surprises of the week in online chess. International Master Ryo Chen of Houston defeated five-time U.S. champion Hikaru Nakamura in the third round of the Titled Tuesday Grand Prix on Chess.com.
The game began with Nakamura, rated 3391, steering into an English Opening. Chen responded with a King’s Indian Defense setup, meeting 1.c4 with …Nf6 and …g6. As the middlegame unfolded, Chen showed no hesitation, breaking open the position with timely pawn pushes and sharp piece play. Chen had a big advantage right out of the opening. By move 27, Nakamura’s position collapsed, forcing resignation.
For Nakamura, the world’s most popular blitz streamer and a regular favorite in Titled Tuesday, the loss was unexpected. For Chen, it was the signature win of his young career.
Ryo Chen’s Breakthrough Performance
Chen, who entered the tournament with a blitz rating of 2971. Yet the teenager showed he belonged, scoring wins not only against Nakamura but also against strong online specialists like GM Tuan Minh Le. In total, Chen finished with 6.5/11, placing 70th overall—a modest result on paper, but one that underlined his potential.
Chen’s road included victories over both masters and grandmasters, as well as a hard-fought draw against Belarusian prodigy GM Denis Lazavik. While uneven results are common for young talents, his ability to strike against elite players was undeniable.
The Houston-based IM is no stranger to making waves. He finished second in the 2023 U.S. Cadet Championship, tied for ninth at the 2024 National Open with wins over Grandmasters Dariusz Swiercz and Viktor Matviishen, and tied for second at the 2024 Charlotte Chess Club Fall Norm GM Invitational.
Away from the board, Chen is very much a teenager. His favorite subject is history, his chess hero is Garry Kasparov, and if given the chance to meet a celebrity, he says he’d choose Elon Musk. Like many kids his age, he enjoys bughouse, the chaotic team variant beloved by young players.
His victory over Nakamura, a player nearly twice his age and with decades of elite experience, may become a milestone in his career—a sign that he is ready to battle with the very best.
Carlsen Dominates Again
While Chen provided the upset of the tournament, the headline at the top was familiar: Magnus Carlsen won yet another Titled Tuesday.
The former World Champion scored 10.5/11, conceding just a single draw to GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Carlsen described it as “definitely one of my more comfortable Titled Tuesday wins,” and it marked his second consecutive triumph in the weekly blitz series.
Duda also finished strong with 10/11, but his two draws left him half a point behind. American speed specialist GM Andrew Tang took third place with 9/11, while GM Vincent Keymer and GM Alexey Sarana rounded out the top five.
The tournament highlighted the continuing dominance of Carlsen in the blitz format, but also the depth of the field—with prodigies like Chen scoring big individual wins, even if not yet competing for the top prizes.
Looking Ahead
For Carlsen, another victory reinforces his reputation as the greatest all-around chess player of the modern era. For Nakamura, the loss to Chen will likely be a blip in an otherwise consistent online record.
But for Ryo Chen, the night of September 16 may be remembered as the moment the broader chess world started paying attention. At 15, he has already shown flashes of brilliance. His win over Nakamura suggests that with experience and consistency, he could become the next American grandmaster to watch.
I’m the senior editor of Attacking Chess, a keen chess player, rated above 2300 in chess.com. You can challenge me or asking questions at Chess.com.
