Hikaru throws away Gukesh's king: Was it drama or disrespect?

Hikaru Nakamura was caught in the middle of a storm for his showboating during the USA vs India Checkmate tournament. In a tournament where the USA blanked India 5-0, Hikaru went over the top after beating World Champion D Gukesh. The World No. 2 picked up Gukesh's king from the chessboard and threw it into the home crowd, drawing a rousing response.

Hikaru's move did not go down well with many former players. Russian champion Vladimir Kramnik slammed the USA player for his gesture and called it absolutely "disrespectful." Kramnik said that the way Hikaru threw away Gukesh's king and celebrated with the crowd was not only vulgar but also a sign of the degradation of modern chess.

"I don't know who came up with this childish, tasteless act. Likely this 'thinker' had no specific intention to humiliate Gukesh, but could have realised that this public gesture (using opponent's KING) looks offensive and provocative ESPECIALLY against the World Champion," Kramnik wrote on X.