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Hikaru Nakamura can become a world chess champion

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Avatar of hikarunaku
hikarunaku
Apr 19, 2019
0
#41

Let's hope Naka gets into his peak form and starts beating everyone. His last tournament was pretty good. 

Avatar of Debistro
Debistro
Apr 19, 2019
0
#42

ChrisWainscott wrote:

No, Debistro, it’s not about anyone with stockfish and a computer.

It’s about someone who has a high level of understanding (Kris does) and the ability to apply that understanding to what they’re looking at with the engine (Kris can.)

Hikaru has been #2 in the world. Most of the others with the teams of GM’s you speak of have not done the same.

Also, I find it hilarious that you’re assuming Kris works cheaper than GM’s.

That is why I said, Naka is a huge talent. He was top 5 in the world largely due to his talent, not because if his prep. How many games has Naka won due to prep? This sort of win is always characterized by no time used on the clock....I don't think there are any.... But relying on talent will only get you so far. Are you suggesting Kris Littlejohn has had a lot to do with his success? Well then, Kris has not done a good job for the past couple of years if that's what you're saying.

Avatar of hikarunaku
hikarunaku
Apr 19, 2019
0
#43
Debistro wrote:

 

ChrisWainscott wrote:

No, Debistro, it’s not about anyone with stockfish and a computer.

It’s about someone who has a high level of understanding (Kris does) and the ability to apply that understanding to what they’re looking at with the engine (Kris can.)

Hikaru has been #2 in the world. Most of the others with the teams of GM’s you speak of have not done the same.

Also, I find it hilarious that you’re assuming Kris works cheaper than GM’s.

That is why I said, Naka is a huge talent. He was top 5 in the world largely due to his talent, not because if his prep. How many games has Naka won due to prep? This sort of win is always characterized by no time used on the clock....I don't think there are any.... But relying on talent will only get you so far. Are you suggesting Kris Littlejohn has had a lot to do with his success? Well then, Kris has not done a good job for the past couple of years if that's what you're saying.

 

As I have already said in terms of raw talent Naka is ahead of everyone. The issue is he has get everything in order and focus on classical chess completely. 

Avatar of ChrisWainscott
ChrisWainscott
Apr 19, 2019
0
#44
Debistro, I generally try not to go down this road, but how many conversations have you had with Hikaru concerning his work with Kris?

Also, wins due to prep are not a case of no time being used on the clock most of the time. They’re about getting a nice advantage and then winning. Sometimes you don’t win until the endgame.

Recent wins due to prep...Robson, Sevian, and Xiong in the US Championships a couple of weeks ago come to mind.
Avatar of Pulsar
Pulsar
Apr 19, 2019
0
#45

Nakamura could never become the world chess champion anymore. At least very unlikely. Magnus Carlson (just one of the players that would stand in his way) is a good deal better than him in standard and better than him on everything else. Hikaru is incredible and he is one of the best blitz and bullet players ever but not in standard. He is past his prime in standard anyway. If you asked him about it I am sure he would tell you that becoming world champion is not even really one of his goals. (At least not anymore)

Avatar of Pulsar
Pulsar
Apr 19, 2019
0
#46
Debistro wrote:

Naka is a HUGE talent. Anyone who can play Chess960 well, and also play blitz and bullet so well, is hugely talented. But Naka probably failed to focus during his prime years, and maybe he kept on relying on his 2100 NM friend when at the top level, you need not one, but several strong GMs to help your opening prep (plus strong computers). You cannot simply rely on your talent alone. This is not 1970 Fischer era. This is not right. Fischer did not rely on his talent even though that took him far. He studied like no other when it came to chess. He did not have a team but he had books upon books and he did it himself. 

Even his stint with Garry Kasparov did not work out (perhaps a clash of egos), although I feel Naka could indeed have learned a lot from Kasparov because both have similar styles of play and for the simple fact, that Kasparov has been there and done that. And Carlsen himself said no one has a better feel for chess dynamics than Kasparov.

Naka has what Caruana lacks, and vice versa. That is the problem.

 

Avatar of hikarunaku
hikarunaku
Apr 19, 2019
0
#47
NBumaye wrote:

Nakamura could never become the world chess champion anymore. At least very unlikely. Magnus Carlson (just one of the players that would stand in his way) is a good deal better than him in standard and better than him on everything else. Hikaru is incredible and he is one of the best blitz and bullet players ever but not in standard. He is past his prime in standard anyway. If you asked him about it I am sure he would tell you that becoming world champion is not even really one of his goals. (At least not anymore)

Are you kidding me? Any top level player has a goal to become a champion. 

Avatar of Debistro
Debistro
Apr 19, 2019
0
#48

 

ChrisWainscott wrote:

Debistro, I generally try not to go down this road, but how many conversations have you had with Hikaru concerning his work with Kris?

Also, wins due to prep are not a case of no time being used on the clock most of the time. They’re about getting a nice advantage and then winning. Sometimes you don’t win until the endgame.

Recent wins due to prep...Robson, Sevian, and Xiong in the US Championships a couple of weeks ago come to mind.

I will ask you a simple question. Can you imagine Naka winning the Candidates and then facing Carlsen (or whoever) in the WCC with just Kris Littlejohn, a 2100 NM? Yes or no? I know about fairy tales, but let's stick to real life. This is NOT 1970 Bobby Fischer era, that era is over.

I for one, cannot imagine such a scenario. I don't think Carlsen himself would dare enter a WCC with just a 2100 NM friend as his second, if you put Carlsen in Naka's shoes.

 

Avatar of Pulsar
Pulsar
Apr 20, 2019
0
#49

People mistake how good Hikaru is all the time. They see how good he is at blitz and bullet and then think that he must be on the same level in standard, but that is not true. I am sure he has done all he can to be the best he can at standard...some people are much better at blitz and bullet than they are at standard. Or much worse at standard than they are at blitz and billet. For example Caruana.

Avatar of ChrisWainscott
ChrisWainscott
Apr 20, 2019
0
#50
If he was playing in the championship of course he’d put together a team.

That’s ridiculous.

However, short of that most guys only have one coach. Hikaru’s is Kris.

Kris has clearly done great work.

So again, the knocks on him are both ridiculous and unwarranted.
Avatar of Pulsar
Pulsar
Apr 20, 2019
0
#51
hikarunaku wrote:
NBumaye wrote:

Nakamura could never become the world chess champion anymore. At least very unlikely. Magnus Carlson (just one of the players that would stand in his way) is a good deal better than him in standard and better than him on everything else. Hikaru is incredible and he is one of the best blitz and bullet players ever but not in standard. He is past his prime in standard anyway. If you asked him about it I am sure he would tell you that becoming world champion is not even really one of his goals. (At least not anymore)

Are you kidding me? Any top level player has a goal to become a champion. 

Not true. I bet you would be surprised. Maybe all top players have at one point Gad that goal but many realiz that it is simply not going to happen. So maybe you could say every top young player has that goal...and even then it is a stretch.

Avatar of hikarunaku
hikarunaku
Apr 20, 2019
0
#52
DamonevicSmithlov wrote:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/official-fischer-random-chess-championship-finally

 

Here's Nakas chance.

You are right. This is the best opportunity for Naka and I am sure he will make use of it. 

Avatar of Titled_Patzer
Titled_Patzer
Apr 20, 2019
0
#53

Try and research Hikaru's early days of chess playing. You'll only find glossed over accounts of his "potential." It's almost as if everything regarding his "character" in those days has been erased. The fact is, most all the chess community did not respect his manner, the brashness, the insults directed towards his peers. Sure, he had enormous talent, which was recognized, but he made zero friends with fellow players, coaches, Tournament directors, etc. This is clearly evident today, as he is not "socially accepted" as one of them. He has an effective marketing team. Has been quite succesful at changing the public's perception. He as gone to great lengths in interviews and appearances, to change his "image." Andre Agassi and John McEnroe come to mind. Today they are well respected in the Tennis community and the media, but it took Years of effort and a complete make-over. Naka was a brash, obnoxious, rude and disrespectful person in his early days. It's difficult for many to forget. The "it's just arrogance, but one well deserved" does not rest well with many.

So the question is ... does such a person with his youthful character flaws, have what it takes to one day become a WC ? Many would suggest becoming a WC is for those of different character, although BF proved this wrong.

Avatar of ChrisWainscott
ChrisWainscott
Apr 20, 2019
0
#54
Um...Carlsen has some serious character issues as well.

Hikaru will be the first to admit that he was a jerk in his youth, but he’s gone to great lengths to correct a lot of that personally with the people involved.

Avatar of hikarunaku
hikarunaku
Apr 20, 2019
0
#55

"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am."

Muhammad Ali

Avatar of Pulsar
Pulsar
Apr 21, 2019
0
#56
hikarunaku wrote:

"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am."

Muhammad Ali

Very true. Most people underestimate how hard it is to be humble with such skill and talent.

Avatar of Pulsar
Pulsar
Apr 21, 2019
0
#57

Titled_Patzer please don’t compare Hikaru to Bobby Fischer. 

Avatar of Titled_Patzer
Titled_Patzer
Apr 21, 2019
0
#58
NBumaye wrote:

Titled_Patzer please don’t compare Hikaru to Bobby Fischer. 

I sense someone who idolizes BF. Anyway, it is my opinion, BF severely damaged the image (chess players) the general non-playing public has, especially true outside the U.S.  This negative image may never be recovered and has yet to be repaired. 

Avatar of Titled_Patzer
Titled_Patzer
Apr 21, 2019
0
#59

Tell your neighbor you play chess. Chances are they'll respond with , yeah.. I've heard of that nutcase BF ... aren't all chess players like him? 
It is easy for chess players to "over-look" his character flaws, as they appreciate his playing skills. But to the general public, his chess skills make no difference what-so-ever when it comes to evaluating a persons persona.

Avatar of Titled_Patzer
Titled_Patzer
Apr 21, 2019
0
#60
NBumaye wrote:
hikarunaku wrote:

"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am."

Muhammad Ali

Very true. Most people underestimate how hard it is to be humble with such skill and talent.

Not true at all. It's a matter of character .. and to what extent.

People are either "humble" or not. Being great has nothing to do with it. People who achieve greatness and exhibit humility, are NOT making any concerted, thought out attempts to act as such. Many such "great" persons are indeed very humble people. It is not because it is "hard to act in such a manner" but rather it is in their character. Ali created a showman's persona for the public. In his private life he was quite a different person.