Post-game Press Conference with Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja | Round 12 | FIDE Candidates

🇺🇸 Hikaru Nakamura (2789) defeats 🇫🇷 Alireza Firouzja (2760). This is Hikaru's third consecutive win, making him one of the co-leaders.
The Candidates takes place in 🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada, from April 3 to 23! #FIDECandidates
👉 For the first time ever, the tournament will be held in North America, promising an epic spectacle that will etch a new chapter in chess history.
More info 👇
🔗 candidates2024.fide.com/

[@shashank22]

Good on Alireza for showing up to post-match interviews after his losses

[@Lukeyz]

Yeah to be fair if I were Alireza I would have a hard time bringing myself to interview

[@youknowit-Arpit]

In most cases,it's always the winner yapping around how great they are but Firouza showing up made this interview even more worth watching. Props to our FrenchMan 👹❤

[@paul-juniorblack6151]

I think they are forced by contract to show up even when they lose. At least they are forced to do media. I'm not sure if its every interview

[@pauljoseph3081]

Funny everyone forgot how his camp orchestrated some random tournaments to qualify, but ends up getting smacked ☠️

[@johnle1535]

​@@youknowit-Arpitdo they not all show up?

[@sherif3000]

Firouzja is dead inside. I feel ya bro

[@sam9239]

He mentally checked out of the tournament a while ago. Seems like he’s just completing his contractual obligations at this point.

[@matthewglenguir7204]

it's sad cuz this is second chance and he even "cheated" to get to the Candidates

[@38raiyyan.u9b6]

What da dawg doin?

[@khaled-A-mohamed]

@@matthewglenguir7204 cheated ?

[@armandomarin371]

No, He seems calm, he even smiles, at the beginning he is clearly in the tank, still analyzing the game.

[@blairmaruhn9124]

post game conference AKA Hikaru taking over and explaining every possible line

[@spinninglink]

lmao the way he just grabs the mouse 😂😂

[@dublintvcontent2023]

He fails to mention here and two or three other post match recaps that after White played Ra7 that instead of ...Ra4 which still draws (...g5 soon after is just utter madness and hard to grasp) black can just play pawn to a4 followed by moving the rook and it looks like a very simple draw? A very poor game by oth players (for this level) and very messy game of not great value. Naka was very lucky but deserved to wi coz Firuja was rubbish. Naka will do well to get such GIFTS in the last tow rounds, Assume he will at best get a draw from the last two games or lose both, end in 4th place?

[@riley1636]

@@dublintvcontent2023I mean the whole point of choosing these strange/uncommon lines is that beyond prep, the players don't necessarily know the best moves anymore. They're hoping their prep gets them in a better situation. It's not really to play perfect with perfect openings, or they'd all be on equal playing field and just draw. The goal is to choose openings that will potentially result in "mistakes" from both sides, but with you hopefully having the opening advantage and your opponent making more. Then instead of opening theory or remembering old games, it is a matter of skill with the pieces, which no one is 100% perfect at.

[@gabe2349]

@@spinninglinkthey gave him the mouse. They cut it in this one but in another interview the interviewer asks him to grab the mouse and go through it

[@dublintvcontent2023]

@@riley1636 Prep by Naka has been rubbish (for this level) and he has been getting away with it.Practical approach over trying to play high level or and creative ideas. Triumph of banal, mediocre reductionist , pragmatic approach to some degree.

[@andrewlies4241]

Its one tournament, firouzja will still be a top ten player for many years. Hikaru has been in firouzjas position many times over the last 2 decades.

[@dublintvcontent2023]

He is not a to ten player. He will do well to stay in the top 20 but probably deserve it. Greatly overrated player for a few years now. Still a great player but not more than a top 15 at best ,going forward (maybe 11 or 12th - if he improves)

[@NMHChess]

​@@dublintvcontent2023he is the youngest player to achieve 2800...its just he took a break to pursue fashion a bit

[@ShadowRM72]

@@dublintvcontent2023 His peak was n°2 in the world in 2021 and three years after that, he is still in the top 10, what u mean lol

[@Young-ep8ik]

@@dublintvcontent2023 you do not get 2800 being a top 15 player. Does not happen. If you can't stay objective stay away from chess.

[@vibovitold]

@@NMHChess "taking a break to pursue" this or that is not something you can "just" do if you're an elite player. the top level chess is a cut-throat world, you need to be 100% focused, otherwise it doesn't matter how talented you are, because all the other guys are also insanely talented AND fully focused. and in my opinion trying another career isn't even a problem in and of itself - it's more of a symptom of a problem.

[@detectivemarkseven]

Firouzja face just says hes done with this tournament lol

[@pauljoseph3081]

All those orchestrated tournaments in order to qualify went to 🗑️

[@toumal2615]

He is done with chess

[@aleemazeez263]

Unfunny

[@seife41]

​@@aleemazeez263unfunny is not a word 😂

[@GiuocoPiano.]

@@seife41every english dictionary in the world disagrees with you

[@LeonardoGPN]

In defense of Hikaru, even the engine almost missed King f8

[@ramkrishnajain4188]

Hikaru on streaming mode😮one breath he explained whole game 🎮 just insane mind 😮

[@brandon7733]

Agadmator released a video and all the possible lines he mentioned were discussed by Hikaru here. Hikaru is a machine.

[@heymaumaumau]

And the legend still managed to release his own analysis video on his channel about this game before this one was put out.

[@matiasortizxxi]

Hikaru is getting used to taking the mouse first thing in the post-game conference after winning, and I'm here for it.

[@foodiemama5150]

I concur

[@weevilunderwood149]

We still love you Alireza. Go kick some ass at the next World Rapid/Blitz. And the next Fischer Random tournament

[@PaoloLeoncini]

Naka looks very fresh and confident. Next one is critical, the big match against Nepo

[@sarangtamirisa5090]

Draw lol

[@extreame7304]

1:12 Gucci just chilling. Probably thinking about latest fashion trends

[@theitchiestwitch]

This is so good to watch. It's nice to see Ali starts out clearly uncomfortable but like most when it comes to this game... it is impossible to now want to talk through what could have been. Hikaru really shines here showing he cares more about playing good chess, obviously he likes winning, but I think he is much more comfortable and chill than he might have been in the past. Sweet interview

[@standfirm5506]

sad for alireza but watching this make me realize he really still have a long way to go, he listen and then analyze what hikaru said like a good student i hope he will go further and further and become one of the pillar in the future of chess

[@srikanthtupurani6316]

Alireza is such an amazing talent. We can understand things. Pressure kills. Some players like hikaru are mentally strong. Alireza will come back strongly after this tournament.

[@milankotevski1663]

We've been hearing that about Firouzja for years now. He's not really getting any younger as years go passing by.

[@dublintvcontent2023]

@@milankotevski1663 Overrated AND over the hill compared to the slew of players on the rise. An impressive also ran, worthy of being in the top 20

[@blender_wiki]

Fake talent

[@ShadowRM72]

@@milankotevski1663 He's still 20 years old lol

[@milankotevski1663]

@@ShadowRM72 We're talking chess here. Not life excpectancy. Lol back at ya.

[@TYT101]

I would have love for the interviewer to ask firouzja why he went pawn g5, and for him to explain what he think he had, or did he just simply blacked out.

[@andysPARK]

Much respect for both players

[@rohithreddy75]

Hikaru is a genuine meme material.His expressions are so genuine and funny.😂

[@MrBhonsa]

Hikaru bong cloud against nepo on 4/20!!!

[@Michael-sv5yl]

Hooray for Hikaru. He never surrenders the human element in the evaluation of a position

[@xekind]

Why did Firouzja play g5? I was hoping they'd ask him.

[@citysim7375]

Go Hikaru. I‘d love to see you in the world championship final.

[@jestice75]

A China vs China matchup.

[@Waklacka]

Need to hear an explanation for g5

[@siyabongadhlamini1518]

"Ah black should be fine, okay"😂

[@gabraham12]

Hikary thinks in light speed.

[@yggdrasil9039]

Yeah. Like Magnus. I would love Hikaru to win FIDE, then Magnus decides to challenge again in 2 years. Match made in heaven

[@Gearsofwartai]

If firouja leaves his father and takes a dedicated coach he will win everything

[@thesurrealist7]

Yeah sure genius. He'll take some random guy's advice and ditch his father who has supported his chess journey for 20 years even though his father doesn't even play chess himself. Keyboard warriors are funny. I agree with the last part of your sentence though, he has the potential to win a lot.

[@Gearsofwartai]

@@thesurrealist7 his father has no mind control to make firouja mentally stronger. He is fight creator toxic not good. He also impacting firouja career in wrong way. Look at gukesh pragnanandha in case.

[@alikarooni9713]

This is what I was saying the whole time. He needs a very good coach who also is a very good Psychologist who can help him both in chess and mental strength. Not his father nor his brother can do that. Please Alireza, if you are reading this, Please reconsider your team. Daniel King can be a very good coach! There are a lot you can chose from of course.

[@user-kq9se2ww7e]

Alireza offensive style usually really a joy to watch, but come on what can he do against a streamer. Go Naka!!!

[@kbeeps141]

Hikaru prepping for his recap video

[@Egyfitness]

"Go back and pretend you are Ok" ...Hikaru Nakamura

[@KaranS2022]

i love alireza firouzja and i feel him aswell tc bro

[@axe-vw6ek]

hikaru actually gonna become world champion lets goo!!!

[@darkwarlord3224]

Not gonna happen

[@AgustinCaniglia1992]

​@@darkwarlord3224 how do you know? 🧐

[@KouwMC]

@@darkwarlord3224 I mean its possible, unfortunate he has black against nepo but maybe draw nepo and win the last one could be gg

[@phd.inanime3427]

According to the statisticians on twitter, Hikaru has 39% of winning it, while Nepo has 31%. I guess they aren't taking it into consideration that Nepo is white against Nakamura, which gives him an advantage.

[@yeahno907]

​@@phd.inanime3427what are their stats based on?

[@illwillpress100]

so cool that this is a thing that exists that people can watch

[@aluminiumknight4038]

Wait his father is coaching him?

[@Tx66]

Love Alireza. Such an incredible player. If he stays at it, he has the brightest of futures ahead of him.

[@Tx66]

I believe!

[@greenhat7618]

I wish Alireza explained why he went G4

[@tobyquaite8616]

Panic and stress

[@chtyldubreux5950]

g5*

[@scorpionc1983]

Most blunders happen on move 39 and 41. But what did he miss? No idea

[@jestice75]

@@tobyquaite8616 Pathetic and suck.

[@1oneonone1]

they shouldve asked alireza a question

[@deanazcoolzi4382]

Just completely winning LOL

[@7mvg354]

i would like to see gukesh as the winner of the Candidates😊

[@MauricioBond23]

Why didn’t they ask Alireza why he played G5?

[@jakobdonskov]

What a weird question from the audience (“Stefan” if anyone knows who that is?). The opening looked like 1500 play, he says.

[@scorpionc1983]

Naka should have replied "You mean it looked as if you were playing."

[@tator9798]

I actually wanted to know why Alireza played such an awckward looking move like g5 just after time control was reached and he had 30+ minutes on the clock to think. I just don't understand.

[@zatoichimasseur6767]

Its cause since ur only 800 level, u dont understand.

[@tator9798]

@@zatoichimasseur6767 are you okay bud?

[@phd.inanime3427]

Mr. Zatoichi I'm a 1700 and even I see that after g5 Hikaru is winning a pawn after exchanges. Do you have what it takes to explain Ra1 which Alireza would've played instead of g5 (which is a completely insane move, giving up a pawn)

[@XCC23]

@@phd.inanime3427 I mean, it's obviously an awful move. I think the only real explanation is nerves. First there's the pressure of time control, and then once he could finally "breathe" again, he lost a bit of tension and blundered. I see it frequently in other contexts too. I've done it myself pretty frequently in video games too. (Executing some extremely difficult sequence of moves, and then immediately once I lose that tension, screwing up on an easy one).

[@phd.inanime3427]

Hikaru should prep Firouzja against gukesh so things will be easy

[@blueberryfuzz]

Experience >>> Youth

[@vamoselmillo]

After watching Hikaru's live explanation of this game, and comparing it with Niemann's post-game of the scandal explanation... I still think Niemann had a a big pair of... 😉

[@boohoohoohoo]

10:58 who else straight thought hikaru would come out with some major accusations here???

[@axelbauh7937]

Yup. Seemed like a message for his team.

[@conradnal8934]

@@axelbauh7937I don’t think so, he trusts all the people in his team I assume. It might seem like his files has been hacked or smth

[@axelbauh7937]

@@conradnal8934 so you telling me that someone in charge of the security measures screwed things up.

[@conradnal8934]

@@axelbauh7937 I have no idea but it seems more likely than someone of his team snitching the files. It is also possible that both teams are using the same engine and the same logic to search for lines. That’s actually the most probable I’d say. Ian was surprisingly well prepared in their first game and in the press he almost wanted to show off how well he knew the line, something to keep in mind. Hopefully hikaru will provide explanation for all of this

[@noobnoob6998]

tie break is faster time control, right? in that case hikaru is the clear winner

[@Drumaier]

Naka not letting Alireza to finish his short sentece 😅😅

[@nimabehnam]

You have a spy on your team maybe lol

[@amirhossein1108]

Love for Alireza

[@saelaird]

Hikaru is broootal. 1:30 "just go back and try to pretend you're OK here". Haha

[@oraz.]

Monte Carlo simulation has favors Naka slightly over Nepo now, Gukesh at 20% fabi at 8%.

[@HometownChessHero]

at 5.45 black c0uld take 0n e1, n0t sure this is a better versi0n?! alth0ugh i guess there is na6 at the end.

[@HorrorGoofy]

at this rate every youngster will surpass alireza sad to see his fall but truth is truth and if someone say he will fall this bad 4 yrs ago i would have kick his ass

[@Breezingg]

You have got to be joking post-match interviews after a game 😮 no way i could do that in a long tiring tournament especially after losing.

[@Puschit1]

Hikaru just switches to streaming mode, lol

[@khalidbashir2037]

I love to think that raza intentionally played g5 to make hikaru having winning chances in the tournament given he is no longer jn the race and he has no beef with both the americans

[@FrethKindheart]

I can't help but think that these post-game videos make the loser feel like a heel. Hikaru tends to take over on analysis because that's what he does in his videos, but I think he needs to be gracious and let others talk.

[@matahari1576]

It happens time and time again. You loose 2 games and the competitors are over you like vultures in the desert. Firouzja played an exiting game, and lost through an avoidable mistake. Bad luck, but fits into the picture. Travel to Paris Alireeza, or to Milan and do some fashion work to inspire you, or go to a boot. camp with a boxer and work on your resiliance, do something nice to sheer you up.

[@thebiglebrowski3695]

Firouzja vs 2600: 💪💪💪 Firouzja vs 2700: 😱😫😣

[@5HeadM]

ok alireza tomorrow you step up

[@nickd5422]

The point of QA4 was to put the bishop on a bad square. So black can't play B6 & BA6 to trade off white's good bishop

[@BANKO007]

What a shame that Hikaru hogged all the talking. I wanted to hear more from Alireza.

[@poravnac]

cool

[@khairulimam4189]

Bro think he's Hikaru

[@yuriys5642]

Yan and I have the same prep 😅😆

[@user-we2gg7ez5p]

It's ridiculous that they ask the players do an analysis right after a 3-6 hour game especially if it wasn't a draw and someone who lost has to sit there.. I hope hikaru wins the canedidts

[@enkaperson]

nah, it's just good sportsmanship and good spirit of research (notice that they usually call themselves white/black instead of I/you)

[@dublintvcontent2023]

He wont! 4th probably. Maybe 3rd

[@oreoyo5639]

They don’t have to show up btw…

[@Riteshplayssomethin]

hikaru's second is leaking his opening ideas to ian

[@ondrabulka4319]

I feel like Alireza completely lost his momentum 2 years ago...

[@phd.inanime3427]

If firouzja wouldnt have dropped playing chess for like 6 months things would've been different. He's not taking it seriously.

[@pauljoseph3081]

His camp orchestrated some tournaments to qualify, only to end up like this ☠️

[@phd.inanime3427]

@@pauljoseph3081 Maybe he's playing for experience as he knows currently these old guys will beat the crap out of everyone, and after 4-6 years Firouzja is going to be world champion anyways.

[@pauljoseph3081]

@@phd.inanime3427 That's a bold prediction for someone who's playing mediocre chess like this. That's not a winner's mentality, that's incompetence and it pays off - not in a good way tho

[@aluminiumknight4038]

​@@pauljoseph3081mediocre chess? Take your meds bro

[@neerajnongmaithem392]

@@phd.inanime3427 bruh prag, gukesh have already played better then him in their first candidates aged 18 & 17, even abdu, arjun and vincet are playing better then him, he has to focus more and make a comeback like wei yi

[@ninjanape]

Hikaruuuuuuuu

[@TheMrBennito]

Firouzja needs a mental coach to work on his weakness

[@migmig9406]

fide should find a better press officer, indeed dry just like an officer

[@Puschit1]

I think having a dry officer is good if you have a streamer like Hikaru who basically runs the interview all by himself. But you would need a more active and emotional one if you are interviewing 2 players that are more of the introvert kind

[@Shadowboost]

Naka should use the rest day to prepare Guccirezza for the next match with Gukesh

[@somenathsen7552]

CANDIDATES 2024 : Toronto. What has happened to 'Super GM' Teen Aged Chess sensation Alireza Firozia ??? I feel he is missing his Parents / Family at home . Multiple Chess World Champion 'Carlsen' said that he would feel 'motivated' to WIN the Trophy once again, only if Alireza is the Finalist !!!!

[@milankotevski1663]

Alireza and Guccireza are two completely different players. Alireza was fierce even as a kid. Guccireza, on the other hand is meh.

[@thedeadbaby]

instead of focusing on what armani shirt he's gonna wear (or not) firouzja should focus on getting good instead of farming low rated players.

[@Philiopantheon82]

Alireza and Nijat slapped really hard by pretty much everyone this event. Alireza is just not into chess anymore it seems so

[@kevinsips3658]

Sometimes I wonder why Hikaru’s opponents show up for these, since he just talks over both them and the host the whole time lol. Let someone else talk bro

[@user-bn3ut9jv7e]

I have a small pp 😢

[@pauljoseph3081]

Alireza has been playing questionable tournaments, skipping all those traditional ones to qualify but ends up getting smacked 🤣 Karma always finds its way back to you!

[@thesurrealist7]

How did Gukesh qualify again, remind me? Chennai Masters lol, sus af

[@pauljoseph3081]

@@thesurrealist7 How did Gukesh performed so far against Alireza again? Remind me

[@thesurrealist7]

@@pauljoseph3081 doesn't matter does it genius? You brought up a separate point. I responded to that separate point. Keep the same standards all across the board or have no standards at all.

[@pauljoseph3081]

@@thesurrealist7 How did your Alireza performed against Gukesh? 🤡 That's what happens when your cherry picking your opponents in your own fabricicated tournament only to qualify in FIDE HAHAHAHAHA

[@andresmadera]

Bad taste having both players sit in the same interview.

[@thepoptard4028]

1

[@dcgaming7897]

2

[@user-gtcn2my5xv]

3

[@NicholasKlacsanzkyICM]

9

[@seya_2]

4

[@nicholasintrepidity5073]

69

[@Dude-etiquette]

This is why no one watches Alireza’s KZbin channel, cause he is boring

[@Dude-etiquette]

Alireza needs to grow up, he is acting like an entitled child. You don’t even deserve to be there after what you did to “qualify”

[@tamgtamg1719]

WIshing Naka the worst two remaining games, hope you will loose both

[@SekiroEnjoyer123]

what's the point of analysing never-played positions? It's chess, there are billions of unplayed positions in each game. It's not even exciting.

[@diegotejada55]

They’re…analyzing their thoughts…that’s kinda the point of this, like “oh I wonder what he was thinking when he made this move”…they were thinking of other ultimately-unplayed positions…not sure what you were expecting clicking on this

[@torinkeenan2718]

you must be 900

[@38raiyyan.u9b6]

True man 😂

[@yogi30303]

They are not analysing billions of lines, they're analysing moves they were thinking of playing or missed to move the game in their favour. Play chess and you'll understand.

[@dubstepjunkie9584]

Tell me you're a three digit rating player without telling me your a three digit rating player

[@christofferore6285]

Wtf is the old guy saying?

[@advaitavedanta6617]

♟️♟️♟️you missed g5??, g4!! and Harry walks😃♟️