When Hikaru Nakamura tossed Gukesh Dommaraju’s king into the crowd after checkmating the reigning world champion in a one-minute bullet game, the Arlington Esports Arena exploded. Fans cheered. Commentators laughed. The internet did what it always does — replayed the clip a thousand times.
But not everyone was amused.
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, a former world top-20 grandmaster, took to Twitter to scold what he saw as the “distasteful” side of show business in chess.
“The event was a show. Fans were ecstatic. Players were encouraged to behave accordingly. All true.
Now, for better or worse, name me one top player who would do what Hikaru did.
In case of Magnus it was an absolutely organic outburst. Raw emotion.
In case of Hikaru, it was just showmanship. Rather distasteful if you ask me,”
Sutovsky wrote.
He added that the incident “had nothing to do with India,” a response to speculation online that Nakamura’s act might have been disrespectful toward his Indian opponent.
The reaction from the chess community? Let’s just say the internet was not on Sutovsky’s side.
“Twitter attention seeker” or “voice of tradition”?
On social media, fans were quick to criticize Sutovsky’s post. One top comment summed it up bluntly:
“Man, it’s low key funny that we have a Twitter attention seeker as the CEO of the governing body of the game.”
Others accused him of hypocrisy — preaching professionalism while running one of the most chaotic social media accounts in the chess world.
“For someone who wants chess to be a serious sport™, Emil has the most unprofessional Twitter account,” one user wrote.
Another added: “His Twitter reads like a high schooler. Sad he has such a high position.”
Some even joked that Grandmaster Anish Giri — known for his humor and diplomacy — should replace him.
“They asked him to do it.”
Several commenters defended Nakamura, saying the act wasn’t spontaneous arrogance, but part of the show.
According to multiple fans who followed the event closely, the organizers of Checkmate: USA vs India — a new exhibition format mixing esports-style presentation with live chess — had actually encouraged players to celebrate dramatically.
“THEY ASKED HIM TO DO IT,” one Redditor repeated three times for emphasis.
Another user explained that only the last two matches — featuring Levy Rozman (GothamChess) and Nakamura — were allowed to interact with the audience using physical pieces, since there were only two sets designed for the stage.
So while Sutovsky saw “distasteful showmanship,” fans saw an entertainer giving the crowd exactly what it came for.
“Let the king be the trophy.”
Not everyone condemned the moment. A handful of fans actually loved it — suggesting that tossing or handing over the opponent’s king could become a new tradition in show matches.
“It’s pretty common in sports for a fan to be given a ball. Turning the opponent’s king into a trophy seems like a natural symbol,” one user wrote, referencing The Queen’s Gambit, where Borgov gives Beth Harmon his king after losing.
The bigger question: What is chess today?
In a separate post, Sutovsky mused about the meaning of being a “chess player.” Is chess a sport — where professionalism and discipline matter most — or just a board game where anyone who plays counts as a player?
It was a thoughtful thread, but after his earlier criticism, many saw it as tone-deaf. The debate captured a growing divide in the chess world: Is modern chess entertainment, or is it tradition?
Hikaru Nakamura, one of the most-watched chess streamers in the world, represents the first camp — bringing millions of casual fans to the game through fast-paced, meme-worthy moments. Sutovsky, the former grandmaster turned executive, stands for the old guard — the ones who built chess on silence, respect, and classical time controls.
A clash beyond the board
For now, Checkmate: USA vs India succeeded in one thing — getting people talking about chess again.
Nakamura’s king toss became the viral image of the week. The crowd in Texas loved it. FIDE’s CEO hated it. Social media turned it into a meme war.
And somewhere between entertainment and etiquette, the game of chess continues to evolve — one tossed king at a time.
I’m a passionate board game enthusiast and a skilled player in chess, xiangqi and Go. Words for Attacking Chess since 2023. Ping me at Lichess for a game or chat.
