"Streaming in both places" - GMHikaru clarifies Kick deal, claims he will still stream on Twitch going forward

Popular chess player and streamer GMHikaru has made quite a splash in the community after announcing a deal with the up-and-coming streaming platform Kick. In a Twitter post made on March 29, the grandmaster has clarified, however, that the agreement is non-exclusive and that he will continue streaming on Twitch.

As an iconic streamer who was an integral part of the chess community on the purple platform, his move to Kick was huge news for fans who have offered varied reactions to it. GMHikaru addressed his decision in a post and suggested that his streaming on the up-and-coming site does not mean that will be leaving Twitch altogether. This means fans won't have to find him on both platforms. Here's what he said:

GMHikaru calls Kick his "primary platform" but will still maintain presence on Twitch

Hikaru Nakamura is a chess grandmaster from Japan but was brought up in the US after his family moved when he was two. The American is a five-time US Chess Champion and is the current defending FIDE World Fischer Random Chess Champion. A veritable prodigy, Nakamura was the youngest American to beat an International Master at the age of ten.

Since 2018, he has been streaming on Twitch playing variations of the game live and also providing analysis, as well as commentary, during big matches from around the world. His insight into the professional chess world garnered a lot of attention, with him reaching a million followers on Twitch by 2021. That figure now stands at 1.8 million.

GMHikaru teased a big announcement on March 28 via a short Twitter post and people wondered whether he would be switching platforms. Shortly thereafter, Kick's official Twitter handle made a post welcoming him to the fold.

On March 29, before his first Kick stream, GMHikaru took to Twitch for a 30-minute stream, explaining how he will be streaming on both platforms. He has also revealed that he will probably be streaming more on Kick because of incentives. He stated:

Social media reacts to non-exclusivity clause

Fans had quite a few questions about his strategy of continuing to stream on both platforms. Here are some general reactions:

After Adin Ross and Destiny's recent deals with Kick, GMHikaru is probably the biggest content creator to make the switch to this new platform. Not so long ago, Trainwreckstv announced six major upcoming signings to the platform, but it is unclear whether Nakamura is Adin Ross' superstar signing.

About the author

Richik has been specializing in streamer content at Sportskeeda for over 2 years. He also manages a group of writers who craft relevant news and features about content creators on platforms like Twitch, Kick, and Rumble. Prior to Sportskeeda, he interned at The Ken and worked as a reviewer at Blacksof where he fact-checked educational content.

Richik’s love for writing, researching, and archiving, along with his inquisitive nature and longstanding love for video games led him to pursue a career as a gaming journalist. He relies on primary sources for accurate information and ensures that his drafts are proofread, fact-checked, and well-researched.

As a child, Richik spent many a summer vacation playing the 1994 Road Rash with his cousins. Although more of an FPS and open-world fiend now, Richik enjoys single-player RPGs with compelling storytelling, such as The Last of Us franchise, and regularly teams up with his friends to play multiplayer titles like Valorant on PC.

Richik enjoys watching streamer and former esports athlete Shroud, and also finds inspiration in MrBeast's journey to become one of the most well-known content creators worldwide. Interviewing English-Somali YouTuber Sharky, a member of the renowned Beta Squad, was a career highlight for him.

When not writing, Richik likes to read, watch a movie or a game of football.

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