'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chess Grandmaster and streamer Hikaru Nakamura, known online as "GMHikaru," recently addressed his absence from the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge. The new invitational tournament, initially unveiled by Magnus Carlsen, follows a Fischer random chess format. It features Carlsen alongside seven other top Grandmasters.
Many were curious about GMHikaru's absence, particularly since he holds the title of Fischer Random World Champion. The content creator claimed it was Carlsen who had the final call on the participants of the tournament:
"Sponsor gave Magnus the decision."
GMHikaru speaks on his absence from the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge
(Timestamp: 00:38)
GMHikaru recently shared his take on the ongoing Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge (February 9-16, 2024) during one of his livestreams. He also discussed the absence of notable players from the event, such as Ian Nepomniachtchi, as well as his own.
The streamer said:
"One thing you guys are going to ask me about is, 'Why is Hikaru not playing?' Now there are a couple of players that are missing from this event. FIDE recently organized a Fischer Random World Chess Championship which I won defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi. Prior to me, the other Fischer Random World Champion was Wesley So..."
He also stated that the main reason was down to the fact that Magnus Carlsen was given the power to choose the participants in the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge:
"Now in this event, Wesley So is missing, I am missing and Ian Nepomniachtchi is missing and one of the big reasons for that is this tournament was essentially organized by a private sponsor in Germany who gave Magnus the decision to choose who the players were going to be."
The content creator added that the three big players who were not invited had all incidentally defeated Carlsen in this format:
"It is what it is. It is unfortunate that a couple of us are not playing. All three of us have defeated Magnus in Fischer Random but nonetheless, the show goes on."
GMHikaru was recently embroiled in a feud with fellow Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik.
Kramnik has publicly stated that the streamer's online games should be investigated (suggesting that there may be some foul play). Chess.com, however, has since dismissed the appeal and even went on to lock Kramnik's blog page on the website.
