HIKARU NAKAMURA is an American chess Grandmaster. Nakamura is rated #1 in the United States and has been ranked among the top five players in the world by FIDE.

Major Accomplishments

Zurich Chess Challenge Champion (2016)

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival Champion (2016)

Millionaire Chess Champion (2015)

US Chess Champion (2015)

Zurich Chess Challenge Champion (2015)

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival Champion (2015)

London Chess Classic Rapidplay Champion (2014)

London Chess Classic Champion (2013)

Tal Memorial Blitz Champion (2013)

Biel Blitz Champion (2012)

United States Chess Champion (2012)

Wijk aan Zee Champion (2011)

World Team Championship Silver Medal Team (2010)

Fischer Random 960 World Champion (2009)

San Sebastian Champion (2009)

United States Chess Champion (2009)

38th Chess Olympiad Bronze Medal Team (2008)

Cap D'Agde Rapid Champion (2008)

Chicago Open Champion (2008)

Gibtelecom Masters Champion (2008)

North American Open Champion (2007)

Corsica Masters Champion (2007)

Ciudad de Barcelona Casino Champion (2007)

Miami International Open Champion (2007)

National Open Champion (2007)

North American Open Champion (2006)

National Chess Congress Champion (2006)

37th Chess Olympiad Bronze Medal Team (2006)

North American Open Champion (2005)

Foxwoods Open Champion (2005)

United States Chess Champion (2005)

Western States Open Champion (2004)

New York State Champion (2004)

Decameron International Open Champion (2004)

Western States Open Champion (2003)

US Junior Champion (2001)

Hikaru Nakamura is an American Chess Grandmaster who was born December 9, 1987 in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, Japan to a Japanese father and an American mother. At the age of two, he moved with his mother and older brother to the United States. He began playing at the age of seven and was coached by his Sri Lankan stepfather, FIDE Master and renowned chess author and teacher Sunil Weeramantry.

Hikaru's January 2011 triumph in winning the prestigious Tata Steel Invitational in Wijk-aan-Zee, the Netherlands, ahead of the four highest ranked players in the world was hailed by none other than the legendary Garry Kasparov as “the best result by an American since 1895.” Hikaru is widely regarded as America’s best hope of regaining the title of World Champion once held by the great Bobby Fischer. Since earning his grandmaster title at a younger age than Fischer, GM Hikaru’s innovative and uncompromising style has delighted numerous fans around the world. A regular participant in the most elite chess tournaments around the world, Hikaru has posted victories against the reigning World Champion, GM Viswanathan Anand of India, and his predecessor, former World Champion, GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. Hikaru is universally recognized as one of the world's best “blitz” players and, arguably, the very best at "bullet" chess. He defeated the current world No. 1, GM Magnus Carlsen, in a four game match in the finals of the BNBank Blitz Challenge in Oslo in November 2009. Hikaru is also the unofficial world champion at Chess 960 having earned that honor by defeating the current world No. 2, GM Levon Aronian, in the finals of the Mainz Chess Classic in July 2009. Hikaru is a four-time United States Chess Champion, winning the title in 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2015.

Nakamura is currently rated No. 1 in the United States and No. 2 in the World according to the October 2015 FIDE ratings list, at 2816. He is also ranked No. 1 on the August 2015 US Chess Federation ratings list at 2900.

Hikaru currently spends most of his time in Naples, Italy and Sunrise, Florida.