Chess World Erupts: Giri Slams Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi Amidst Lingering Feud

Anish Giri has reignited the flames of controversy with fresh criticism aimed at Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi, following their public dispute at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team event in London earlier this month.

Anish Giri was involved in a heated exchange with Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hikaru Nakamura. (Screengrabs)

Giri addressed the issue on Take Take Take, stating, "I'm getting very disturbed whenever Nepo is brought up. I'm like, how did everybody come on time and you didn't?" He further commented on the situation, "I think it was more of a heat-of-the-moment situation. Again, I felt that it was unjust what was happening. Not even what was happening, but the fact that they just finished the match."

The Genesis of the Controversy

The initial dispute arose when WR Chess suffered a defeat in the first game of their quarter-final match against Germany and Friends. The team lodged a formal protest, claiming they had not received proper notification regarding the start time, leading to the late arrival of their players. Specifically, Alireza Firouzja was 15 seconds late, Ian Nepomniachtchi had only 1 minute and 4 seconds remaining, and Hikaru Nakamura had a mere 38 seconds on their clocks. Consequently, all three players forfeited their games.

Following extensive deliberations, the organizers decided to allow a replay of the first match.

Giri expressed his disapproval of the decision, "They lost. Are they going to play again? And intuitively, I feel that their chances of winning the match are, like, massive. And then I realized, well, that's because, you know, they're taking two shots. And they shouldn't have taken the first shot." He continued, "Of course, I understand it all happened in the moment. But I just didn't like the notion of all of them sitting there entitled. And I'm like, yeah, how did everybody come on time and you didn't? Like, you know? They saw the entitlement, like, yeah, how did it even happen? Like, you know, I didn't really like the way it went. And the fact that nobody was fighting for the other team."

Rebuttals and Further Jabs

Nepomniachtchi responded to Giri's initial criticisms with sarcastic remarks such as, "Big expert in law, Anish. Since when?" and "Next FIDE president." He also questioned Giri's motives, stating, "Anish seems so smart, but whenever he opens his mouth… it's already questionable." Nakamura echoed this sentiment, asking, "Why does he care so much?"

When prompted about the perceived gossiping between Nepomniachtchi and Nakamura, Giri quipped, "If Ian and Hikaru are able to sit alongside each other and gossip about me, you know, then me and Ian will surely be fine as well. Because these two, like, they have so much bad blood. I mean, like, it is so bad for so many years."

He concluded, "And they've had so many incidents that if they managed to overcome it, me and Ian will manage to overcome it as well. I'm not confrontational until I feel that there's been injustice. And when I feel that there's been injustice, it kind of triggers me. I've had these issues with Magnus as well. Like, I'm ready to be his best friend. But I felt that he's done something which was not just somehow an unfairness of a situation. It just triggers something in me. I don't know why that is. Otherwise, I'm very peaceful."