GM Hikaru Nakamura

A child prodigy in every sense of the word, Nakamura made a fast impact on U.S. chess by knocking down nearly every age record on his way to the top. He was at one time the youngest American master in history (10 years, 79 days), the youngest American international master (13 years, 2 months) and eventually the youngest American Grandmaster (15 years, 79 days). This broke Fischer’s record by three months.

Nakamura has collected numerous titles and championships since the age of 13, when he first arrived onto the national scene by becoming the 2001 U.S. Junior Champion. He quickly confirmed his place as one of chess’ great elites, shocking the world with a sweet sixteen appearance in the 2004 FIDE World Cup.  His accomplishments do not end there. Among them, he was awarded the prestigious Samford Chess Fellowship. His honors include becoming the 2007 National Open champion and three time winner of the North American Open. He was an individual bronze medalist in the 2006 and 2008 World Olympiad, as well as the gold medalist on the first board of the 2010 World Team Championship, where the United States placed second.

Ever since FIDE began publishing Blitz ratings, Nakamura has graced the top of the list, demonstrating his skill and speed. Nakamura won bronze at the FIDE World Blitz Championship in June 2014.  Nakamura had another excellent year in 2015,he won the Gibraltar Chess Masters tournament,  captured his fourth U.S. Championship, won the top prize at the Millionaire Chess Open,  and propelled his FIDE rating in classical time controls to a career high of 2814.  In 2016, he repeated first place finishes at the Gibraltar Chess Festival and the Zurich Chess Challenge, and also played for the U.S team that won the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Earlier this year the esteemed American Grandmaster won the Gibraltar Chess Festival for the third consecutive year.