Now that Nakamura has won the WCC ...

What do you make of his victory, and its implications for the chess world? Does it signal that we have now officialy entered the "computer age" of chess, considering that the last two world champions are seen by many as the two greatest internet blitz and bullet players of all time? Do you think that Nakamura's aggressive style will be emulated by other top-level players, making chess at the highest levels potentially much more exciting?

Also, how surprised are you by Nakamura's win? It is probably the single biggest upset in the history of the WCC. According to this poll of chess.com users, only 1% of people thought that he was going to win:

http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=582eadd5e4b0a2928b75b4dc

And now that he has won, how long do you think he will be able to hold on to the crown? Assuming that current trends hold, there is a good chance that the winner of the next Candidates' Tournament will be rated higher than Nakamura, and could even be Carlsen himself. In that case, would Nakamura, as the reigning champion, be considered the favorite to retain his title, or would he once again be the underdog?

These are difficult questions to answer, and it is probably too rash to try to answer all of them now. They are worth pondering, however, in the coming months, as Nakamura begins his reign as World Champion. In the meantime, I would like to congratulate Nakamura on his victory. I hear that he will be going to the White House next week to meet with President Obama and President-elect Clinton. As the first American world champion in over 4 decades, he fully deserves the honor, and I am sincerely happy for him.

who told you nakamura won?!

Well, ok, technically he hasn't won yet. He still has to finish the last rapid game. But realistically, the championship is already his.

Keep trolling...

dude, its carlsen

The time it takes you to realize someone is off track...

Now he's got to win the Candidates in 2018 for the right the challenge the reigning world champion, Hikaru Nakamura.

I'm assuming that by "he" you mean Carlsen. Do you think he can do it? And if he does, do you think he would be the favorite in a rematch against Nakamura, or the underdog?

Where was Nakamura crowned?  Who gave this info!!!  

Wish Carlsen on his Birthday then!!!

I think Carlsen would definitely be the underdog against Naka if he wins the Candidates 2018. Note that Naka is the world blitz, rapid, and classical champion. Carlsen has no chance against him.

But Carlsen won't even win the candidates! Taimanov will.

And yes I do think Nakamura will enjoy meet president-elect Clinton.

I was watching it live. Nakamura couldn't wipe that smirk off his face in the winning position against Carlsen.

I think if Nakamura studies some endgame books and tries to not use both his hands for castling, he can defend his title in 2018.

I remember watching the first Apollo moon landing and Nakamura saying "This is one small step for chess, one giant leap for chesskind". 

You couldn't make it up.

I know, right? Now people are going to come out and start saying, oh, Nakamura is arrogant, or someone needs to teach him how to win with class. It amazes me how judgemental people can be on the internet, and how much nonsense we see every day. Some people even go so far as to make up things that never happened, in order to fit their own constructed narrative. Why can't we just let Nakamura enjoy the moment? He's certainly earned that right.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Carlsen has "no chance." A lot of people said that this year about Nakamura, and clearly they were very wrong. I do think that at the moment, though, Nakamura is clearly the better player. Carlsen might still have a slightly higher rating, but ratings aren't everything. Naka's aggressive style seems particularly suited to beating Carlsen, and if Carlsen does win the Candidates' in 2018, I think Naka will definitely be the championship favorite.

Well, first there is Caruana--a much better challenger. And even So is ahead of Naka in the ratings now. Not impossible we will see him in the next WCC.