{"id":3048,"date":"2025-02-18T12:11:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T12:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gaming.news\/?post_type=news&#038;p=3048"},"modified":"2025-02-18T20:44:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T20:44:38","slug":"grandmaster-hikaru-nakamura-joins-team-falcons-ahead-of-ewc-chess-debut","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/gaming.news\/news\/2025-02-18\/grandmaster-hikaru-nakamura-joins-team-falcons-ahead-of-ewc-chess-debut\/","title":{"rendered":"Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura Joins Team Falcons Ahead of EWC Chess Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"spgn__article__hero__news horizontal-wrapper vertical-wrapper\">\n\t\t<h1 class=\"spgn__article__hero__news__title wp-block-post-title\">Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura Joins Team Falcons Ahead of EWC Chess Debut<\/h1>\n\n<figure class=\"spgn__article__hero__news__image --with-bg wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/images.gaming.news\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80,width=1280,height=854,dpr=1,fit=crop,gravity=0.5x0.5\/https:\/\/s3.gaming.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/falcon-nakamura.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1280x854 size-1280x854\" alt=\"Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura Joins Team Falcons Ahead of EWC Chess Debut\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1600px) 565px, (min-width: 1280px) calc(25vw + 172px), (min-width: 900px) 800px, (min-width: 380px) 91.8vw, calc(40vw + 178px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.gaming.news\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80,width=412,height=275,dpr=1,fit=crop,gravity=0.5x0.5\/https:\/\/s3.gaming.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/falcon-nakamura.jpg 412w, https:\/\/images.gaming.news\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80,width=768,height=512,dpr=1,fit=crop,gravity=0.5x0.5\/https:\/\/s3.gaming.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/falcon-nakamura.jpg 768w, https:\/\/images.gaming.news\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80,width=792,height=528,dpr=1,fit=crop,gravity=0.5x0.5\/https:\/\/s3.gaming.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/falcon-nakamura.jpg 792w, https:\/\/images.gaming.news\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80,width=1280,height=854,dpr=1,fit=crop,gravity=0.5x0.5\/https:\/\/s3.gaming.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/falcon-nakamura.jpg 1280w\" \/><figcaption>Hikaru Nakamura. Source: Team Falcons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<div class=\"spgn__article__audio\">\t\t<span class=\"bg\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"custom-audio\">\n\t\t<div class=\"audio green-audio-player\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"play-pause-btn\" id=\"playPause\">\n\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"controls\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"name-and-time\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"name-audio\">Listen to this article<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"total-time\">~&nbsp;3:00<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"slider\" data-direction=\"horizontal\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"progress\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pin\" id=\"progress-pin\" data-method=\"rewind\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"volume\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"volume-btn\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#F2F2F1\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14.667 0v2.747c3.853 1.146 6.666 4.72 6.666 8.946 0 4.227-2.813 7.787-6.666 8.934v2.76C20 22.173 24 17.4 24 11.693 24 5.987 20 1.213 14.667 0zM18 11.693c0-2.36-1.333-4.386-3.333-5.373v10.707c2-.947 3.333-2.987 3.333-5.334zm-18-4v8h5.333L12 22.36V1.027L5.333 7.693H0z\" id=\"speaker\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"volume-controls hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider\" data-direction=\"vertical\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"progress\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"pin\" id=\"volume-pin\" data-method=\"changeVolume\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"spgn__article__meta\">\n\t\t<a class=\"spgn__article__meta__block spgn__article__author\" href=\"https:\/\/gaming.news\/authors\/mik-dzisko\/\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"spgn__article__author__avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t<img alt='Mik Dzisko' src='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb199cc14ff87ae10effaf16572ea2ce3dc9cc4aa9e0c1d5e8645771722e75d0?s=68&#038;d=retro&#038;r=g' class='avatar avatar-68 photo spgn__article__author__avatar__image' height='68' width='68' \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"spgn__article__author__name\">\n                \t\t\t\tBy\n                \t\t\t\t<span itemProp=\"author\" itemScope itemType=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span itemProp=\"name\" title=\"Display name in user profile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMik Dzisko\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"spgn__article__author__position\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>Deputy News Editor\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t            <ul class=\"spgn__article__author__data js-article-data\" data-timestamp=\"1739880691\">\n                <li class=\"spgn__icon__separator js-local-date\"><time itemProp=\"datePublished\"\n                datetime=\"2025-02-18T12:11:31+00:00\">February 18, 2025<\/time><\/li>\n                <li class=\"spgn__icon__separator --lowercase js-local-time\">12:11 pm<\/li>\n                <li>3&nbsp;min read<\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"spgn__article__meta__block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"spgn__social\" data-testid=\"hero-social\">\n\t\t<div class=\"spgn__social__title\" data-testid=\"hero-social-title\">More content<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"spgn__social__links\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"spgn__social-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@gamingdotnews\" data-testid=\"hero-social-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"screen-reader-text\">Gaming.News on YouTube<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"spgn__social-link\" href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/cJYbGCNs\" data-testid=\"hero-social-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"screen-reader-text\">Gaming.News on Discord<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"spgn__social-link\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/gamingdotnews\" data-testid=\"hero-social-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"screen-reader-text\">Gaming.News on X<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"spgn__social-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gn_gamingnews\" data-testid=\"hero-social-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"screen-reader-text\">Gaming.News on Instagram<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"spgn__social-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@gamingdotnews\" data-testid=\"hero-social-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"screen-reader-text\">Gaming.News on TikTok<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"spgn__article__key-points\">\n\t\t<div class=\"spgn__article__key-points__title\"><h2>Key points<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t<ol class=\"spgn__article__key-points__list\">\n\t\t\t<li class=\"spgn__article__key-points__list__item\">\n\t\t<span>American chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura joins Saudi Arabian esports organization Team Falcons.<\/span>\n\t<\/li>\n\n\n\t<li class=\"spgn__article__key-points__list__item\">\n\t\t<span>Nakamura has represented the United States at seven Chess Olympiads.<\/span>\n\t<\/li>\n\n\n\t<li class=\"spgn__article__key-points__list__item\">\n\t\t<span>Other major esports teams such as Gen.G, Team Liquid, LGD Gaming, Team Vitality and NAVI are also signing with top-tier grandmasters.<\/span>\n\t<\/li>\t\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/div>\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"spgn__article__content horizontal-wrapper vertical-wrapper narrow\">\n\t\t<div class=\"spgn__article__content__main spgn__content\">\n\t\t<p>Saudi Arabian esports organization <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DGLuQw_ojDe\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Team Falcons has signed American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura<\/a>, one of the world\u2019s top chess players and a major figure in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/GMHikaru\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">chess streaming<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nakamura, a five-time US Chess Champion and current World Fischer Random Chess Champion, has signed with the team ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC). The tournament, where chess is about to debut as an official competition, will take place from July 31 to Aug. 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a $1.5 million prize pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To qualify for the EWC, Nakamura will need to perform well in the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chess.com\/events\/2024-champions-chess-tour\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"> Champions Chess Tour (CCT)<\/a> events. The qualification process is fierce, with only the top 12 players from the CCT guaranteed spots. The remaining four spots will be up for grabs in a Last Chance Qualifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-facade__wrapper\" style=\"padding-top:56.20%;\">\n\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"youtube-facade__img js-activate\" \n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1lodWzgXaOw\/hqdefault.jpg\" \n\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1lodWzgXaOw\/hqdefault.jpg 658w, https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/1lodWzgXaOw\/maxresdefault.jpg 1280w\" \n\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(min-width: 659px) 100vw, 100vw\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display:block;\"\n\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Hikaru Nakamura Joins Team Falcons\"\n\t\t\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"youtube-facade__button js-activate\" aria-label=\"Play video\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg height=\"60\" width=\"60\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M66.52,7.33a8,8,0,0,0-5.64-5.66C56.52,0,34,0,34,0S11.48,0,7.12,1.67A8,8,0,0,0,1.48,7.33,84.11,84.11,0,0,0,0,24a84.11,84.11,0,0,0,1.48,16.67,8,8,0,0,0,5.64,5.66C11.48,48,34,48,34,48s22.52,0,26.88-1.67a8,8,0,0,0,5.64-5.66A84.11,84.11,0,0,0,68,24,84.11,84.11,0,0,0,66.52,7.33ZM27,34V14l18,10Z\" fill=\"#f00\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<polygon points=\"45 24 27 14 27 34\" fill=\"#fff\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"youtube-facade__iframe\" style=\"display:none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe \n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1lodWzgXaOw\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-src-autoplay=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1lodWzgXaOw?autoplay=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tframeborder=\"0\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tallow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\tallowfullscreen\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"Hikaru Nakamura Joins Team Falcons\"\n\t\t\t\t\t><\/iframe>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It looks like the very first competition for the EWC chess title is going to be intense, as other elite chess players have also teamed up with top-tier esports organizations in recent months. Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has joined Korean team Gen.G, while American stars Fabiano Caruana and Magnus Carlsen have signed with Team Liquid. Chinese team LGD Gaming has brought in former world champion Ding Liren, and Team Vitality secured Maxime \u2018MVL\u2019 Vachier-Lagrave. Esports giant NAVI<a href=\"https:\/\/gaming.news\/news\/2025-02-18\/navi-expands-to-chess-by-signing-three-grandmasters\/\"> has expanded into chess as well<\/a>, adding top players like Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Wesley So, and Oleksandr Bortnyk to its roster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hikaru earned his grandmaster title at the age of 15 and has represented the United States at seven Chess Olympiads (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), securing a team gold medal and two team bronze medals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a peak rating of 2816, he is the tenth-highest-rated player in history, according to The International Chess Federation (FIDE) estimates. At the time of writing, he holds the third place in FIDE\u2019s rating with 2802 points behind only<a href=\"https:\/\/gaming.news\/news\/2025-02-14\/team-liquid-expands-into-chess-signing-grandmaster-fabiano-caruana\/\"> Fabiano Caruana<\/a> (2803) and<a href=\"https:\/\/gaming.news\/news\/2025-02-12\/five-time-world-chess-champion-gets-poached-by-team-liquid-ahead-of-esports-world-cup\/\"> Magnus Carlsen<\/a> (2833).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is worth noting that Nakamura has already been a part of competitive gaming teams before. In 2020, he signed a six-figure deal with North American team TSM but ended his association with them in 2022. 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