Are Hikaru Nakamura and GothamChess The BEST Chess Teammates EVER?

Don't believe us? Watch this match. In our new Team Chess Battle, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura and GothamChess faced off against Chess Grandmaster's Eric Hansen and Jorden van Foreest in an EPIC Armageddon match that saw the two show INCREDIBLE teamwork.
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[@zone07]

Hikaru was like a big brother. He's like, "do what you want;" but when it came time to win he was like, "nah nah nah, we gotta win, do this"

[@liljackypaper]

Reminds me of a DuckTales episode where he says "put your hat wherever you want" then proceeds to say "but not there" to everywhere he tries to put it 😂

[@AC-kb1dc]

right i just remember a bunch of yeah do what you want almost everything is fine here, openings just whatever... do nothing just don't blunder this position its fine just shuffle around a bunch and make them think they have to push. yayaya its fine stockfish says its ok

[@KatoYutobe]

yeah its so ridiculous that Levy thinks he contributed anything to these games

[@liljackypaper]

@@KatoYutobe he did bro they used his ideas a bunch of times

[@jimfeyenoord01]

​@@KatoYutobe he did contribute a lot to the games tho, however the win is purely because of hikaru 😂

[@TheLyingLeft]

Levy got a full lesson for free from Hikaru. Rather than discussing moves and getting straight to the point for any of these games, Hikaru instead gave him insights and discussions behind the ideas and moves. They both did it like this as if they had all the time in the world. 🤣Pretty crazy if you've seen the other games and see how other pairs worked together. Everyone else pretty much did it the same way, but Hikaru did it like a coach and Levy was his student.

[@ALIAA-lo4jg]

and was funny as fu*k

[@ced3069]

It's also crazy how Levy found the MVP moves too, as danya stated if I am not mistaken.

[@TheLyingLeft]

​@@ced3069No. Levy sure did. Levy was very hesitant and didn't really believe in himself. Hikaru assured him and gave him the freedom to make moves. Levy found them. Like I've commented in the other videos, Hikaru was like a hands on coach who shadowed over Levy.

[@jacopobottoni8597]

@@TheLyingLeftif you look at the recaps of his own tournament is the past you clearly see how Levy’s biggest problem is confidence. I feel like Hikaru being such an insurance in the fact that he would point out obviously wrong moves gave Levy exactly what he’s been missing. Awesome to watch!

[@TheLyingLeft]

@@jacopobottoni8597 Agree!

[@madting2984]

When I was looking at the game live, it felt as if Levy didn’t contribute that much. Looking back at it, his insight actually helped Hikaru not to overlook certain moves in certain calculations.

[@carnivalism1042]

It's probably because the first parts are theory, and that Hikaru's better than it compared to Levy. But middle game is where Levy cam contribute the best I think.

[@mrtaco321123]

Hikaru knows how to capitalize on a win. Levy knows fundamentals of the board better than most gm's

[@VictorSivtsev]

You're not a psychic, you're Hikaru's sidekick

[@andrewschroeder9502]

@VictorSivtsev I understood that reference

[@reaper_is_unavailable]

161660

[@aviary__]

Look I saw rook a4 😂

[@tipu._.9245]

Hikaru's sidechick

[@brycepeddicord6763]

And you are nobody

[@Archeops24]

I read the title as: "Are Hikaru and Nakamura the best chess teammates ever?" 😂🤣

[@stormatime9426]

😂 yes

[@ignatvasil548]

yea lol

[@aldwingungob3196]

LOL you got me xD

[@christofjork8446]

I love this format. Players articulating their thoughts and weighing up different variations gives so much insight into their way of thinking.

[@JulienRoigHerr]

Yes, the idea is just brilliant. Chess commentary is so boring (as is most sports commentary honestly) because most of the time there isn't much to say and the presenters are trying to fill dead air. Having Danya come in periodically to analyse the games is all the commentary we need, and hearing the players the rest of the time adds so much to the games.

[@jarredj8278]

I love how Sensei Danya comes in @ 9:26 "Hikaru and Levy trying to get the game out of theoretical waters, but in fact we ended up in a very well studied and popular line" lol

[@cblips1]

It was really good of Hikaru to encourage Levy to play his moves.

[@nestoracosta1551]

11:30 you can see Hikaru going “Wow! Wow.” And levy, “huh?!”

[@MitchyBoix]

Jorden and Hansen had such good accuracy in their games it should be stated. Was such great chess by both teams

[@wesleyb1458]

For sure!

[@nishantsaini579]

Interesting

[@TH-dg2mm]

This tournament just demonstrates how much better the top ~5 super GMs are compared to normal GMs. Hikaru and Wesley see the best lines 99% of the time and they find it in 0.0001 seconds.

[@isaaccutler5307]

Its also shown that they’re human, fabi trying to lose a piece in the opening and giris emotions killing his chances

[@rtxf]

Can’t wait for the games tomorrow

[@dghdhnxjxj7057]

I missed this duo

[@kennethwoods6525]

I would pair Levy up with Hans just so I can see them become animated with their voices raised and hands flailing throughout the match.

[@NinjasOfOrca]

in the coding community, there is a concept of "pair programming". it works best with one driver and one navigator - this is exactly how hikaru and levy operate. hikaru is making the decisions, but Levy makes the moves, suggetsions, and counterpoints. it is beautiful to watch

[@mmmmmm2619]

I thought Levy is the Gothamchess. (Batman)

[@tator9798]

Is Batman known for being the Gothamchess? 🤔

[@dohpam1ne]

Batman and Robin both reside in Gotham lmao

[@xDEEZKNIGHTSx]

GothamChess to Alfred Nakamura :)

[@Ism0Lait3la]

Gotham doesnt specify the character

[@alexeypunov2642]

What a content. Can we have more like this? There's too much information about chess logic and tactics, I never met such an instructive videos packed into a pure intertainment.

[@haddymcbatty]

That was awesome. The Danya interjection was *chef's kiss* too

[@tranhoangbaohuy3499]

Hikaru: Go ahead and Caslte Levy: I know there is Knig- Hikaru: Just Castle, No no no, JUST CASLTE 😂😂

[@isabellam1936]

This is beyond fascinating because you get to hear the thought process of both sides and since there two people on each time you het tk hear more in-depth explanations and communication than if it was just one person on their YT channel explaining it to a camera which both of them have. So this is very special and an underused learning tool. More of these!

[@joshcleminson]

This is quite possibly the best thumbnail image ever created!

[@chessbergen]

Such an insanee matchup, intense, exactly what I needed recovering from a brain injury

[@chilli_Tea]

they really made Levy Robin. Nah bro 😭💀

[@NoneInName]

That thumbnail is golden😂

[@ultang]

Hikaru sneering when Levy says he's making a comeback: what a friend.

[@rinkutachi]

This is just amazing format. More of this!

[@scottjasper5424]

Okay, this was amazing 💜 The back and forth was amazing. This tournament is a great idea.

[@drumcircler]

Fun format! Make a staple!

[@vision2g422]

yeah they were very informative and entertaining and you kept switching to the other guys

[@lonely_sandwhich]

They did gotham so dirty with the thumbnail 💀

[@mischievousfish151]

That thumbnail is 😂😂😂

[@SpaceBotany]

Aww look at Levy's happy little fists.

[@ronanartist]

giving gothamchess the robin costume was absolute savagery

[@user-kf2qs2hg1f]

21:14 “Don’t forget to dehydrate” Huh?😂

[@Litsedew]

in my mind they should win a tournament

[@Egyfitness]

Hikaru has to win against Wesley and Fabiano, not easy. Wesley is a rapid monster

[@caglaray35]

What a thumbnail dude

[@aarush_k]

The thumbnail got me laughing 😂😂

[@ivoo87]

the dream team strikes again

[@gajeelredfox1016]

Nah that thumbnail is incredible 🤣🤣

[@Stiggandr1]

The thumbnail for this video is hilarious.

[@vineetkumar7621]

Best thumbnail of 2024😂😂

[@DannyDusse]

1:55 Why does Levy reference Brett Favre like he's a hero from ancient folklore😂😂

[@ace942]

Gotham chess should have been Batman in the image and Hikaru should have been Robin.

[@kennethwoods6525]

Had to click because the thumbnail cracked me up!

[@Strill_]

I can't believe Bert from Sesame Street became superhero.

[@lilmooshroom1]

This thumbnail is pineapple😂

[@Socrates...]

I love this format

[@hatsuno8491]

Best thumbnail ever

[@ExStylez]

that thumbnail 😂 100% accurate

[@dusty407]

Yes

[@earlkjarbrown3753]

Let's go Levy (with OTB play again)!

[@seldom_bucket]

can someone explain why they resigned in the end please? i can't figure out what happens if they just move their king to f7.

[@xkizmikie309]

King takes the rook on H1 and black is down a pawn and a rook. The knight also has no moves and the king can make its way over to take it

[@xd_ryuu3041]

rook h1 was hanging

[@seldom_bucket]

​@@xkizmikie309thanks, I'd gone completely blind to the hanging rook 😅 I spent an embarrassing amount of time searching too.

[@sriprasadjoshi3036]

21:14 Jorden said 'Don't forget to dehydrate' lol and eric goes 'huh?!' is the most funny moment

[@JoshewhaBoe]

Jorden says both lines. He is saying "huh" to the chess

[@kaslon05]

Magnus the Riddler ?

[@user-st3rx6mm1u]

Then Kramnik was the Twoface

[@evanc.1591]

Nah, Bane Carlson

[@Medium0Rare]

When is next round?

[@moitchy6202]

Levy and Hikaru are energetic whilst Van Foreest and Hansen seem so monotone and almost bored. kind of weird to watch but still very entertaining!

[@ForALittleSupport]

They might think the same way

[@anth2]

historically, how many chess teammates have there been, playing in the same game together?

[@carljanzen2050]

That thumbnail..😭😭

[@pivotmaster9556]

crazy how long it takes for an obvious right move sometimes...the second game could have been so easily swayed by playing a3 or wasting more time defending in that opening

[@NinjasOfOrca]

I wonder if white actually has an advantage in team armageddon. more time to think things out. on th eother hand, as black's time gets low, the pressure increases, and the imprecisions and inefficiencies of communiciation start to mount

[@shabibrishad6079]

Magnus is still stuck in Levy's youtube channel

[@dshpayer9907]

“Don’t forget to dehydrate “ Jorden Van Foreest 2024

[@alexanderallegra432]

Gotham chess is robin?

[@620ochavez]

We will see soon enough?

[@roiburshtein852]

Classical ones right?

[@yugoniku]

Anjay, digendong Hikaru 😆

[@emmanuelarthur4722]

Hikaru and Magnus 😈

[@failuhh]

Anyone else notice the weird chapter titles????

[@NielsenMendesCamposNMC]

Best double ever \o/

[@johnrichardson7629]

No. I'm hoping Wesley So and Alice Lee win it all.

[@jovial111]

They’re so good! It’ll be CC HL AW in the finals for sure. TBF I didn’t look at the bracket before commenting.

[@rexfariss5653]

I agree, team wholesome for the win!

[@tator9798]

I liked them but i also like this two bastards

[@aquilaeduciel5698]

Hikaru + Levy = Hikaru

[@MaxCoplan]

I don't understand. What're the rules for this format?

[@bastawa]

very nice

[@saikirannerva8875]

What is this chess theme send me this

[@kaidoChess]

Legends. Any other small creators that want to collab like this hmu! 🎉❤

[@eizendragon5141]

The meme dream is real 🎉🎉🎉

[@NinjasOfOrca]

why is Hikaru smirking that first game. Like he knows something no one else in the game does - is it the way he's manipulating Levy?

[@amanuelamogne9749]

It was funny, how much hate Hikaru was getting in the Chat during the game...he seemed extremely disinterested and the fans were not taking any of it...

[@othmanewins5656]

Why did he get hate in comments ?

[@potatokiller4188]

He doesn't seem disinterested to me? I mean he acts the same as on any of his streams.

[@tator9798]

You're talking about Levy's chat rigth? Not surprising, that chat pretty much shares the mentality of a 14yo doing drugs.

[@gh3meister]

He was saying the first game was boring, but this game he was not doing that. People just like to hate Hikaru. I saw someone say they were torn because they wanted Hikaru to lose but they wanted Levi to win. They wanted him to win even though they couldn't spell his name the right way lol

[@pivotmaster9556]

he saw this and addressed it, the position was very boring and drawn, levy should see that and also be disinterested is the point

[@I_suck_at_chess123]

16 likes, 4 comments and one view 😂 good job KZbin 😂

[@lpcastro8847]

Hikaru and gothamchess what are they looking at

[@teedomeowgi7959]

No. Anish & Danny will never be topped. ♥♥♥

[@VishmikaVihanga]

Im a beginner for chess ...so can someone tell me how they won...🙂

[@GregTurismo]

They teamed up? I thought they hate each other?

[@susbedo9258]

They are friends. Despite all fake info passed around by haters, Hikaru actually gets along well with most players. He plays up with persona in his streams. Otherwise l, these days he is actually a normal dude. Everytime there is a rumour of someone hates him, next I will see Hikaru literally spending time with that player. So stop believing all these nonsense rumours

[@jgb7480]

Who said they hate each other ?

[@GregTurismo]

They act pretty mean towards each other and don't stream together anymore. That's all I'm talking about. @@susbedo9258

[@GregTurismo]

They act pretty mean towards each other and don't stream together anymore. That's all I'm talking about.@@jgb7480

[@rhwing5095]

​@@susbedo9258 You're only spreading more rumours of your own making. There's no reason to think any of these personalities are any closer to one another than mere acquaintances. What is abundantly clear is that they will milk the most from any ounce of drama.

[@ayushchandra1486]

Yess

[@adamramos9153]

I am confused why they threw in the towel. I know it is a losing end game for black, but they could still possibly win on time.

[@user-dq7on6ol9k]

Ok!

[@tericsimons9206]

What are you talking about? They barely won

[@positiveinsights2020]

GothamChess is a better player already🤔

[@Kingtaehyung1]

Chess is best😂

[@vnkhuong1567]

MY screen record gameplays is turned black because of privacy. I just wanna make some content. Could you just blur my opponent names alone? Samsung galaxy A54.

[@danteq5814]

Levy pretending he decide/understand something although he doesnt xDD

[@tator9798]

He does understand, even i understood once explained.

[@gabrielli614]

levy aint the side kick

[@yp_biggie1116]

What's the format here, I don't get? If hikaru can talk freely what's the point of the team?

[@Zyrexia]

Hikaru and Levy are good teachers, but the greatest of the greatest is GM Daniel Naroditsky..

[@zarvis12]

Make one team mic set to one side of head phone and other team to the other side of head phone. People will listen to what they want 🤔

[@SUBSWITHNOVIDS-zp2tb]

Bad idea for those who dont watch without headphones which is a lot

[@gh3meister]

​@@SUBSWITHNOVIDS-zp2tbdouble negatives?

[@rishiaman2288]

21:14 dont forget to “dehydrate “😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jw7665]

Levy: *Breaths* Hikaru: "Blundered, that's unfortunate" 😂

[@0_0ba]

Levi+Hiraku ≠ Cagnus Marlsen

[@fikks7106]

Levi+Hikaru>Carlos Magneson

[@dylanmeyer6614]

Levi + Hikaru = Hevi Liraku

[@ChessCoachNick]

I will play one game of chess for every like this comment gets

[@brycepeddicord6763]

No one cares

[@tmicelli]

I do !

[@glispie]

Begging for likes is so 2012

[@piotreg6512]

Bro thinks he on instagram

[@namepes09]

Stop torturing him

[@Heipa-Atenba]

❤