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The story of Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura: 40 private blitz games in Moscow

Lex Clips

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Lex Fridman Podcast full episode: Hikaru Nakamura: Chess, Magnus, Kasparov, ...
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GUEST BIO:
Hikaru Nakamura is a chess super grandmaster and is currently the #1 ranked blitz chess player in the world. He is also one of the top chess streamers on Twitch and YouTube.

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20 Comments

@LexClips Creator 3 years ago Pinned

Full podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJNvxYEcVAY
Lex Fridman podcast channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexfridman
Guest bio: Hikaru Nakamura is a chess super grandmaster and is currently the #1 ranked blitz chess player in the world. He is also one of the top chess streamers on Twitch and YouTube.

@iFkNxLegend 3 years ago (edited)

Magnus learned Hikaru’s weaknesses. Hikaru learned that Magnus has no weaknesses

@AarushAgarwal 3 years ago

Find someone who is obsessed with you the way Lex is obsessed with Magnus

@travelreview5962 1 year ago

If they ever make a Mikaru Magnus movie, this is the biggest scene.

@dansanger5340 3 years ago

Magnus is like the Borg. Strong opponents can get in a few good games before he recalibrates and starts winning. Hikaru wishes that those few good games had been in a tournament setting rather than casual games in a hotel room.

@steveo.111 3 years ago

I think the reason we aren't talking about Hikaru, in turn, also learning about Magnus and his weaknesses, is the implicit concession that Magnus is flat out better chess player. So from that standpoint, Magnus already had the advantage and giving him 40 games to study him cemented the advantage instead of maintaining the element of surprise.

@irontigran4335 3 years ago

Two legendary chess addicts, just brawl at midnight in a silent dim lit room with only one spectator. It's like chess fight club all the way, except that one spectator break rule number 1..

@MichelePonte 3 years ago

Magnus: Let’s play a “friendly” game
Hikauru: Ok, friend

Magnus exploits whatever he learned for the next 10 years

😅

I wonder if Magnus just wanted to play for fun or actually went Sun Tzu.

PS: I love both Magnus and Hikauru. Very different personality, but both needed in the chess world

@AbinashAdhikari 3 years ago

I think hikaru lost some psychological edge after those games where he started to have some complex. But his streaming career has him more sorted now i think. Good for him, that he is in better place now.

@waldemarmarmar3552 3 years ago

the fact that Hikaru and Magnus played 40 OTB blitz games with just Henrik and some journalist watching at a Hotel lobby with barely any light is insane.. I would love a Hikaru autobiography telling this kind of stories.. of course I would also love a Magnus autobiography once he retires

@bray3923 3 years ago (edited)

This is like Michael Jordan taking Charles Barkley out for golf during the finals 😂

@RinaldoCartaya 3 years ago

They talk about Magnus like people speak of Bolt or Jordan. Everyone is so mesmerized and in awe of their greatness in the moment they psyche themselves out.

@d0ublestr0ker0ll 3 years ago

God damn this interview is incredible.

@nickpapageorgio8529 3 years ago

Magnus knew his openings much better at this point in time. This probably helped Hikaru grow by showing him he needs to work on his openings.

@oussamaokbi 3 years ago

Hikaru is 15 words ahead of any monologue he does xD

@tominmo8865 2 years ago

I love how Hikaru is so candid about everything. No ego-filter to make him look better or save face.

@scottbaker5938 3 years ago

If Magnus was asked about this event, I bet he wouldn't remember learning anything that helped him dominate Hikaru for the next 10 years. This may just be in Hikaru's mind.

@fardrives 3 years ago

The thing is he had the same opportunity to learn Magnus' style of chess to try and gain a future advantage. Both players are risking and exposing themselves in this scenario. Magnus was the player that was able to outplay. Legendary story nonetheless.