My Most Painful Loss

[@TheWizardsOfOz]

Hikaru's best draw was in fact also against Magnus when he and Magnus made a brilliant double bongcloud game, where Hikaru found the beautiful move Ke7!!! ending the game in a draw and farming Magnus.

[@iwanttohelpyou4510]

!!! means godlike brilliancy, right?

[@defenestratedalien1448]

@@iwanttohelpyou4510 of course, the BongCloud is a god like opening

[@lammatt]

@@defenestratedalien1448 very draw-ish at the 2800+ level

[@therollor7171]

@@lammatt chess played perfectly is always a draw

[@lammatt]

@@therollor7171 but drawish giri changed his name to Winish giri just now

[@marklondon9004]

'Nakamura san, what must I do to achieve your greatness?' 'Student, sit and I will tell you a tale of great suffering.'

[@tiva290]

It's Nakamura sama

[@asagoldsmith3328]

Nakamura-sensei

[@julseu_lol]

Nakamura-shi

[@marcandrada]

Nakamura Oppa

[@ponseltangan5477]

Nakamura-niisan

[@emreet2780]

I got a heart attack twice at 2:56 and 3:01

[@jimboslice4468]

The second one was just to make sure, incase the first one hadn't quite finished you off

[@jollilolli5227]

jumped outta my god damn skin

[@superfire6463]

I was reading this and wondering, could a chess blunder really be so bad as to.....and then I got hit with both of them in quick succession

[@Dave-dm3wy]

@@superfire6463 superfire wtf, hello

[@superfire6463]

@@Dave-dm3wy Dave !!

[@badassnewbie]

Props to posting this and sharing just how cruel chess can be. It's easy to share your wins, it's not so easy to share the losses, let alone your worst one.

[@GMHikaru]

At the end of the day, you learn more from losses than wins. -HN

[@AnubhabLeo]

@@GMHikaru As a player Having a 256 W - 25 D - 2560 L during my 2 year online chess career I can completely agree with you - LM.

[@twrk139]

@@GMHikaru Did HN i.e. hans niemann say that?

[@crimsonitacilunarnebula]

@@GMHikaru Chess speak for itself .-Hans Nieman (fake lorax) I speak for the chess -magnum carls'on(real siccesor of the true scissors) Potato Bread 🍞

[@clintoruss153]

@@GMHikaruthanks editor

[@saulchadman2704]

Magnus truly magnus'ed all over him. Truly the game of all time

[@EEEEEEEE]

E

[@jakeach8666]

Everything is always a learning experience, and you posting this and sharing your thoughts with us is greatly appreciated so we can learn with you!

[@niagra898]

Nice seeing some humility from HN

[@theworrier4096]

Yeah shut up

[@EEEEEEEE]

E

[@akshay831]

Man you could hear the pain in his voice in that second half, you could tell he was hurtin’ just talking about it. I loved listening to it though Hikaru! Thanks for uploading

[@AtMillaz]

It took Hikaru 9 years to make this video. 🍍

[@petromyzontida.]

9 years to think ,is it the most painful or not !

[@zoltan9760]

I love his YT alter ego with all that extra enthusiasm compared to the stream monotone lol

[@zoltan9760]

What my favorite gm noticed me?

[@simens8646]

I remember this game very well. As a Norwegian and a Magnus fan it was an emotional ride with a positive outcome. I remember thinking that Hikaru's position was so extremely strong and commanding that there was absolutely no counterplay for Magnus. As a chess player I also remember feeling very sorry for Hikaru. Blundering a loss in a completely won position is a feeling I know all too well. It's especially difficult to find the correct moves and reset your mind, once the position has gone from winning to equal.

[@chaunceysnodgress3672]

Thank you for sharing your tough loss. I’m sure you learned a lot from it. But sharing this humbling explanation of your difficult experience will allow many others to learn also.

[@manmoth_1990]

Watching this live was quite the experience. Magnus was unreal in the post-mortem. "I thought he could still make a draw with Nc8". Completely mindblowing after such a game. He was a machine back then...

[@bananagramalama]

I can just imagine Hikaru randomly waking up in the middle of the night and thinking about this game.

[@hulivar]

the hell was that sound at 2:55 and 3:00 Hikaru? Scared shit out of me

[@zhekkeroh]

same it was so loud for me

[@outsidethepyramid]

wot the heck

[@MrJtin69]

Magnus no.1 in classical chest all time is the G.O.A.T but hikaru has won our hearts and is the peoples champion remember hikaru heros get remembered but legends like you never die

[@jgone4856]

I wonder if that would be true if magnus had become a streamer at the same time as hikaru 🤔. Also would his chess have benefitted from it like hikaru? We'll never know I guess

[@egor.okhterov]

@@jgone4856 he doesn’t speak as fluently and his speech pattern more monotonous, so he wouldn’t be as popular

[@M7md_n29er]

@@egor.okhterov magnus is the world champion, that alone will make him popular. He is charismatic and funny so him becoming popular is no brainer. Only issue is his personality isn't that type to care about streaming consistently.

[@tranquilitytranquility1407]

@Охтеров Егор Yes, but Magnus is kinda fascinating, he can be doing nothing and it’s still interesting to watch somehow 😅

[@jgone4856]

@@egor.okhterov that's so incredibly shallow. There are so many popular streamers that don't speak English perfectly like xqc. Personality is all

[@blas_de_lezo7375]

I appreciate hikaru a videos about his losses he most. Not only the content is top notch but you get insight into the thought during the hard times in a way nobody else does.

[@isabellam1936]

It’s very admirable of you to show your big loses and we can also learn from them as much as your wins if not more. This game also show tons of skill because you were so far ahead in this game for a very long time. Also thank you for using a chess program where we can see the evaluation bar so we can see what the engine thinks of the position on top of your thoughts about the position. I love how you explain obvious things to you like mates that could happened because you care about how not everyone knows and see’s what you do.

[@arjundhanta7314]

😮😊

[@MikePasqqsaPekiM]

I can’t imagine the pressure at this level even without the family complicating things a little bit more. Respect.

[@Saurabhsingh1234-y2z]

This thing of emotion haunts one day and night again and again ....losing a winning position kills you ....once i played a tournament held in my govt office ....while i was unrated and casual player ....my opponent was 1794 fide rated player but i was in a complete winning position had i didnt missed a tactic ....till today i feel sad ..thinking of that game....after fighting for 3 and half hours i lost that game which i could have easily won

[@markbrown6978]

Just a wonderful post, your honesty and humility, considering what a great player you are is inspiring, the greater the Super GM, the less BS, thanks for your great videos.

[@Grandpa_Moses]

Humility is a good thing, it shows character. Stay on this path

[@Ali-Reza]

I have to say that Hikaru is a phenomenal story teller .. it doesn't matter what's transpiring, he is just SO GOOD at the narrative and controlling the narrative even while explaining a loss. Well done.

[@ninadpradhan6566]

He is terrible at narration, what are you smoking, he literally speaks too fast and repeats the same sentence like 5 times, he may have great stories to tell, but his narration skills is unfortunately nothing like his chess.

[@sismy1892]

Hikaru you're one of the main reasons I started to learn chess. I am still terrible but you teach very well. Thank you

[@coosoorlog]

I remember watching this game live, thinking like omg, he's actually doing it, he's finally beating Magnus fair and square in classical chess! And then the Magnus effect game to play.

[@mcawesome4150]

I remember watching this game live, it was insane watching that eval bar go from +9 to draw to losing, thanks for sharing!

[@CoffeeNKush]

That ending was so wholesome wth, peace and love to you too bud :]

[@Trollolololol1337]

Hey Hikaru, thanks for sharing your thoughts on that game. Not only from a chess prespective, but also what was going on in your mind. I was also playing a competitive game (not chess) in my town and threw away a game which was winning against my local rival. Can really feel what you are saying. I hope you and Magnus have a good and respectful relationship, no toxic stuff going on etc. My rival was a "good winner", no disrespect at all, helping me to get better and in the next tournament I was able to beat him.

[@Man6524]

Perfect video, shows us that there's people behind chess board. That's why chess is sport. Also it would be great to look at winning moves in the key position.

[@wuerbo]

That you can talk about it with humility and share it with the world shows growth in mental strength and maturity. 💪💪

[@Bushissafe1]

Watching this at 2 am and hearing the Hikaru's notification sound blast full volume had me terrified 2:54

[@black_712]

I have so much respect for you for covering this game bro o7

[@DELTA704]

Man that's absolutely brutal. Many a men would have let that crush them permanently. Great to see you bounce back eventually

[@DannyDusse]

Consistently defeating and holding your own against the highest ranked player ever is amazing. Two of the greatest players ever.

[@blas_de_lezo7375]

Props to hikaru, therapy and content all in one!

[@ivanstayner8818]

Hikaru: "My worst lost of my chess career" Me: SO FAR

[@romanlacson]

i didn’t understand half of these loves but that’s probably why hikarus a GM and i’m not 😂

[@ippimerawr]

This must have been tough to make, respect to you Hikaru sir, facing our toughest losses makes us stronger

[@dyatlov3466]

I like the way Naka look at his failures. Always reflexive, mature and learning from his mistakes. It inspires me a lot.

[@jarlardo]

Did not know about this devastating game, thanks for sharing! To be fair it was not easy to find the crushing moves.

[@Christiaan1958]

Honesty is the great mark of a champion!...here Hikaru is brutally honest and we as woodpushers on here can learn a lot!

[@tokyotrap2579]

Beautiful story and game. Great content, man. I felt yo pain dawg 😭😭😭. You have have had more thrilling victories and growth since! I enjoyed every minute of this!

[@advancednutritioninc908]

Great video! Excellent attitude toward your greatest loss! I know you have learned many things from your losses ... and wins! Being awake all night pondering that board - I know it was tough and probably caused to lose the next day but you took it like a champion and learned from it! Look where you have come since that time!!!

[@macmiguel4212]

On the plus side. You are a much better KZbin content creator than Magnus.

[@ΔημήτρηςΠουλ-λ3μ]

We tend to forget that chess players are common people with relationships and stuff happening around them and we believe that being mentally great every day is something "normal". Its so easy to quit after this.Good for you that you didnt gave up and now we are lucky to see you both playing against its other.

[@Olebull93]

As we say at the artic circle in Norway: "Traveling Somewhere That Doesn’t Exist? Of Course, I’m Coming"

[@tbone-ip5fi]

I remember this game, it was beautiful but then painful to watch!

[@flippert0]

I remember this game, seeing it "live" on "chessbomb" (R.I.P.). Apart from earlier winning moves, it was consensus afterwards that 37.Qf1 was an assured win. During the game though, it was totally confusing for the majority of us onlookers why the engines eval fell suddenly from +7 to 0.0. Kudos to Magnus for holding on "one more move" for a prolonged time until Hikaru lost his head.

[@ahmadsamadzada6347]

I think gm hikaru is the most honest person thats why i love him

[@clintoruss153]

Imagine being so good that Hikaru has only beaten you once or twice in classical chess, Classical is the purest form of the game , but sincerely this is one of Hikaru s best videos I have watched , you could see the pain even now, and Hikaru telling us the story and the emotions and how vulnerable even the best can be.

[@christophermendoza6936]

Love videos like these where they show some of their losses, and how even at these levels they can do some easy blunders. Chess can sometimes be very frustrating, but such an amazing game to play

[@multiplicativeswitch6769]

Hikaru: "My most painful loss" Also Hikaru: *Energetic and cheerful the entire video*

[@ltisenotem]

He literally doesn't care

[@mortenwiik5025]

litterally in denial

[@stonecoldscubasteveo4827]

Well, it IS 9 years later.

[@serumser1]

@@ltisenotem he is a streamer now, check!

[@ltisenotem]

@@serumser1 no thanks

[@RealXD]

The thumbnail reminds me of the relationship between Goku and Vegeta. Vegeta always wanted to surpass Goku while Goku always wanted to better than himself.

[@TheGeordieMachine]

I’m a noob but at 9:54 can you not sack the Knight on E7 with check? Magnus would then be forced to take with the rook otherwise he will lose his queen? Once he takes with the rook then White queen to C8 with check and he can only block with the rook which you would take and the checkmate?

[@zikra5901]

Bro you're right

[@Shadowmonarch601]

No because after you check with the queen the king takes the white pawn

[@thomassandfield835]

I remember this game, i was watching it from Hongkong, and as you said, you had a superb position, and I actually expected to see Magnus resign, but after the pawn move, things slowly started to unfold, it was an incredible match, but i have to say, it takes a lot of curage to share your mistakes, and we all seen how well you have played against Magnus after that match. I wish FIDE came out with a tag-team tournament, and you and magnus was on the same team, i think that would have been a hell of a team match, each player can sit on the table, and switch every 5min during the match.. that would be very very interesting ..

[@mirzaabdullahbaig8178]

Magnus just doing Magnician studf

[@One_Zhadosian]

Incredible how the entire game was so pivotal on one untimely pawn... How the title of champion depended on the precise position of the weakest piece of the game is such an analogy to life.

[@chubphd]

What a cool opening, Hikaru should go for a BWC more often

[@makayneilson7570]

This makes me feel slightly better about a game I played recently. I was winning and then made a blunder and got checkmated. I even had a force mate sequence that I missed. The feeling of knowing that you're winning to have it ripped away is brutal.

[@MintyGaming1]

minute 3:45 was mate in 2 because if he played queen to b6 your turn and then magnus takes the b pawn check bishop protecting queen

[@pbrynild]

I remember this game so clearly. I was watching the Norwegian TV broadcast which had a few chess experts in the studio, and Magnus' sister Ellen was there. At one point when the computer was showing massive advantage for white they were talking about how it was all over and one of them (who is a GM) said that "I am sure all of us here in the studio would win this position against Magnus with white." Boy, was he wrong! It so easy to look at the computer evaluation and think that it's easily winning. Actually winning it over the board against the best player in the world is a totally different matter. But the best part was watching Hikaru's face when he realised he'd blown it and was suddenly losing instead...

[@jarirepo1172]

Actually even knowing what happened, I can't quite find the win for white immediately without assistance. Maybe rook h1 before pushing forward to protect backrank / king?

[@pbrynild]

@@jarirepo1172 There never was an easy win, I believe, just massive positional advantage.

[@jarirepo1172]

@@pbrynild Yeah, that's what leads to the saying you need to win GM so many times before you really win the game, one misstep and you lose all advantage, another one and you lose.

[@floriandauser6263]

We appreciate the high level analysis! thx hikaru

[@MANOFTIME]

We believe in you Hikaru! All losses are a learning experience, we know you will become a world champion if not now then next time but I know you wil!!

[@bombsquid6436]

It's bold taking play ideas from a Fide Master when facing Magnus

[@jmtx.]

'Literally Don't Care' is the perfect counter to the Magnus Effect.

[@ThinhNguyen-if5kg]

Hikaru’s life achievement: Live in the shadow of Magnus, forever as his lesser.

[@tobbiehillberg8402]

So sad, Hikaru. Hope you will win soon, wish you a great streak...

[@MaxLee-l7p]

It hurt me just to see this man. I cant even believe how dissappointing it would have been for you. But you did win tons of respect from your fans like me

[@Chris-rb8ox]

I love these analysis videos!

[@emmanuellmiqueletti7029]

Poor Hikaru. Magnus lived rent free in his mind after this game.

[@armando-_-1261]

I think that you improved a lot physiologically these days if you have the mindset you have now in the past I think you would have won a lot of classical tournaments

[@ricardo072]

You are one of the greatest, looking at a few games is part of the show.

[@surajtiwari3266]

6:46 white queen captures on g2 with a check. and h is now open

[@malcomvictor5306]

Hoping for more of these videos and anecdotes

[@mickdonedee1]

At 9:56 I wish Hikaru played Nh6+ followed by Qd7. I think those moves would have helped Hikaru win the game.

[@distrologic2925]

Very insightful! The whole psychology of delivering peak performance for every move is an entire playing field of its own.

[@irvandipawangsa3609]

Looking forward to seeing in the Meltwater Chess Championship next month!

[@borcz100]

Excellent content! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@theworrier4096]

That’s is cringe

[@ScottMiller777]

At 15:40, what about Qh6 where Black is forced to trade? Black plays Qxh6 white plays gxh6 protecting his g-pawn. This frees up Whites knight to keep attempting checks (mates), therefore limiting Black's rook.

[@ryantres85]

You have been playing against him for many years, which means you both are up there at the ultimate level of chess, the level millions around the world try to reach every single day. And you two still have a long way to go. Just imagine playing against him, once again, in 20 or 30 years.

[@maciekklich7144]

For us you will always be the winner

[@brunocarreriamashita2910]

Hikaru, please, come back to the classic matches, we all like to see u compete and win. Im cheer for u from Brazil, and i hope you go back to the classics

[@joeknapp9162]

Your breakdowns are amazing, easily the best on the platform for high level chess. Would love to have seen some of your thoughts on how the position could have potentially played out in your favor but otherwise another excellent video!!!

[@artourtiger7887]

As demoralizing as that was for you, it must have taught you so much and made you a much stronger player. GG!

[@gbcommando]

Agadmator’s title & Hikaru’s thumbnail are on next level.

[@chiborlawzidz6683]

Hikaru and Magnus- better love story than twilight

[@verver6]

This is what made made Hikaru Heisenberg

[@mortalengine2934]

Your most painful loss to me as a fan was losing to ding liren and not competing for world championship... although qualifying like that felt cheap, especially if you were not going to take the crown from the king himself

[@gokulkrishnan7989]

At 9:55, he could have sacked the knight Ne7 with a queen fork + check and then Qc8 check and maybe mate in 1. I am a noob to advice but found it interesting. Love you from Sweden, GM.

[@zugzwangelist]

I remember watching this game as it unfolded. It was like a Hollywood movie: lots of action and drama, topped off with an ending that was completely expected and completely unrealistic at the same time.

[@niagra898]

Usually I can’t stand Hikaru, however-his chest analysis has been excellent..a rare..👍

[@MintyGaming1]

minute 7:58 was mate in one if you killed the pawn with the queen was check the pawn in h file

[@mrdraw2087]

Was expecting that game against Ding from the candidates tournament to show up.

[@donsurlylyte]

magnus was already the goat in 2014, we just didnt know it yet. whereas you have been getting stronger in the last couple of years

[@gtrmusic69]

I remember this game. I was following it live. Awesome channel. Good luck to you.

[@aserlongas9819]

It´s important to admit defeats and accept disappointment. Nice video and great game anyway, Hikaru!

[@DannyDusse]

The only blunder was inviting your family.

[@11pupona]

@10:46 that is one of the worst blunders ever because according to engines, there were like 15 moves with a +3 score, that d6 move was the 17th best move!!!! out of 31 possible legal moves white had, that is, any random move was probably better than d6!!! according to engines there were 16 moves that were still winning, 7 draws, and 8 losing. I remember the broadcast the face of Hikaru when he realized that after d6 all the advantage was lost...

[@Scott-uz1cd]

I prefer recaps of winning games, we don't want to see your losses.

[@muscularleopard9613]

I just know you for quite some time but whenever I watch your videos it feels like I've known you for so long.

[@mrdraw2087]

It still felt as if the position got a bit too messy, as white's best moves were getting increasingly hard to find. Black's counterplay seemed very slow, while white had a clear and simple attacking plan.