The 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship in Doha is set to feature one of the strongest fields in the event’s history. Nearly every major star has confirmed participation, except one of the biggest names of all: Hikaru Nakamura.
For fans, his absence feels unusual. Nakamura is widely considered one of the greatest blitz players of all time, a fan magnet, and a natural favorite in any fast-time-control event. So why is he missing from Doha this year?
1. A Major Life Event: Becoming a Father
One of the simplest and most important explanations is personal:
Nakamura and his wife are expecting their first child in December 2025.
He shared the news publicly earlier in the year, and it immediately reshaped how fans interpreted his tournament schedule for the second half of 2025. The World Rapid & Blitz is held December 25–30, right during the holiday period and dangerously close to the expected due date.
For any soon-to-be father, traveling internationally at the end of December, especially for a high-pressure event in the Middle East—becomes difficult to justify. Nakamura has always valued family time during Christmas, and he has said in previous years that he dislikes traveling during this period. With a newborn on the way, skipping the tournament becomes an understandable, even expected, decision.
2. A More Selective Tournament Schedule
Over the past few years, Nakamura has changed the structure of his chess career. Instead of playing every top event possible, he has gradually moved toward what many people describe as a “selective professional schedule.”
That means:
- choosing tournaments that align with his long-term goals,
- avoiding unnecessary travel stress,
- and balancing professional chess with streaming, content creation, and personal life.
Even without the baby on the way, late-December travel is far from ideal for him. Doha requires a long-haul trip, timezone adjustment, media duties, and nearly a full week of intense competition. Nakamura has repeatedly said that he prefers events that fit naturally into his workflow and lifestyle.
This shift doesn’t mean he’s less competitive. In fact, it means the opposite: he focuses on the events that matter the most to him, and plays those at extremely high level. The 2025 Rapid & Blitz simply didn’t make the cut.
3. Strategic Preparation for the 2026 Candidates
A major factor behind Nakamura’s schedule in 2025 has been his long-term objective:
qualifying for and preparing for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Throughout the year, his event choices indicate a clear strategy:
- protect classical rating,
- avoid risky tournaments that could cause rapid rating swings or fatigue,
- prioritize events that strengthen his classical play rather than his rapid or blitz activity.
Rapid and blitz don’t affect Candidates qualification directly, but they do affect:
- energy levels,
- travel fatigue,
- workload,
- and recovery time.
A chaotic, travel-heavy December event right before the start of the 2026 training cycle simply doesn’t fit his professional roadmap. If the goal is to arrive at the Candidates in peak form, skipping a holiday-season sprint tournament is a logical choice.
4. The Realistic View: Nakamura Is No Longer a Full-Time OTB Grinder
Another important context point:
Nakamura’s modern career is not centered exclusively on over-the-board (OTB) chess anymore.
He is one of the biggest chess streamers in the world. He’s a major personality with millions of followers, sponsorship deals, and a streaming ecosystem that operates constantly. Streaming is not a side job — it is a meaningful part of his professional identity, brand, and income.
Because of this, his chess calendar is no longer built around playing every FIDE or classical event available. He chooses events that:
- he finds interesting,
- are worth the travel,
- or fit cleanly around streaming commitments.
The World Rapid & Blitz, despite its prestige, has never been mandatory for him. In years where the timing or travel logistics were inconvenient, he has skipped it before. His absence in 2025 fits this pattern.
5. The Holiday Timing Has Always Been an Issue for Him
Finally, we cannot ignore timing.
The event always takes place right over Christmas week.
Nakamura has said multiple times (especially in past Q&A sessions and interviews) that he prefers spending holidays at home. Even without a baby coming, he has been consistent about avoiding long international trips during the last week of December.
This year, with a new family responsibility, that preference becomes even more pronounced.
Putting It All Together
When you combine all the factors, the picture becomes very clear:
Hikaru Nakamura is skipping the 2025 World Rapid & Blitz because it conflicts with major family events, does not align with his long-term competitive goals, and falls during a time he traditionally avoids international travel.
It isn’t a surprise.
It isn’t a controversy.
It’s simply a practical and personal decision.
Do fans wish he were playing? Absolutely.
Would he be one of the favorites if he joined? Without a doubt.
But Nakamura’s priorities in 2025 are shaped by a bigger picture: family, selective competition, and preparation for the future. Chess doesn’t always come first, even for the biggest stars.
Updated: Despite skipping the event, he is covering it live on Kick and openly criticized Magnus Carlsen for being late in the first round.
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.