Hikaru Nakamura has defended himself against withering criticism from a few former players and fans on social media for tossing D Gukesh’s king into the crowd after defeating the world champion in an exhibition game in the USA called Checkmate: USA vs India. Nakamura has also gone ahead and suggested a unique way, like dancing on Bollywood music, for Gukesh to celebrate if the Indian beat Nakamura in a reverse game in India, scheduled for later in the year.

Even though Gukesh is yet to speak out about the incident, Nakamura has come under considerable criticism from Indian fans, who have accused him of disrespecting the game and Gukesh. In the days since the controversy, it has emerged that it was the event organisers. who had suggested to the players to do things like throwing the king

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