Hikaru Nakamura

World's No. 2, streamer

“My general view about the whole topic of delay, cheating over-the-board and all this stuff is that I frankly think it’s nonsense. Considering the amount of uh machines they have to scan the players they have in the room — I think it’s all complete nonsense. I really do.

It’s not that I have any problems with it. I just think that the fears that some players have expressed and so on — are completely exaggerated, and I just think it’s nonsense.

I’m just going to be honest… They scan us before the game. They scan us after the game. They have the metal detector. They have a variety of other separate scanners. I mean, who are we? Are we like Mossad agents inside Iran or something? I mean, come on — we’re chess players!

FIDE? No, of course, I haven’t voiced this opinion to FIDE. I don’t really see a reason to. When I look at FIDE or things that are being done, I really have no point in arguing with them or saying anything.

My general view towards all this is that I think it’s all overblown. I think at a smaller open tournament where you don’t have all these scanners and equipment, I can understand the concerns. But at an event like this where everybody’s in a room, there are arbiters watching everybody, there are cameras on everybody… I mean, without inside help, there’s nothing that can happen.

I just think it’s all nonsense.”