Grandmaster chess player Hikaru Nakamura is known for playing fast with sharp instincts, quick calculations, and confidence under pressure. But at the FIDE Candidates Tournament, everything came to a halt for over an hour.
© FIDE_chessFacing a 20-year-old prodigy from Uzbekistan, Javokhir Sindarov, the top-seeded Nakamura spent 67 minutes and 44 seconds on his 13th move, marking the second-longest move in FIDE Candidates history. Russian Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk has the record after taking 72 minutes to make a move against China’s Wang Hao in 2021.
© FIDE ChessSindarov took full advantage, continuing what’s been a breakout run in the tournament. Meanwhile, Nakamura, who many expected to dominate, struggled to find his footing.
© FIDE Chess“He just thought for one hour and played the wrong move,” Sindarov said after the match. “And after this, I took this advantage and played very well in my opinion.”
The pause alone was shocking and ended up going viral, making chess mainstream with some hilarious reactions.
The internet reacts
On Reddit, the reaction was immediate - and brutal. “It was the wrong move," one redditor wrote. “Pretty much the move that cost him the game. Eval went to -0.8 after that.”
Some couldn’t believe how long the decision took, given the outcome: “And after all that, it was the wrong move… from a +0.4 to a -0.6.”
Others questioned the preparation entirely: “If the simple act of your opponent castling can throw you for over an hour… isn’t that the definition of a terrible opening choice?” another added.
There was also a theory that the clock wasn’t just about calculation, but emotion. “I wonder how much of this time was spent on him being angry and having to reset himself emotionally.”
On X, the memes were endless. See some of the hilarious responses to Pubity's tweet about the game
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© XWhere things stand now
The moment felt like a turning point, and the standings now confirm it. Sindarov has surged ahead with five wins in six games, extending his lead after defeating Wei Yi. Reflecting on his approach, he kept it simple: “I played very solidly… I also had a big clock advantage, and I could press. I took advantage of his mistakes in time trouble.”
Wei Yi admitted the pressure, saying, “My opponent is in good shape… I made some mistakes in time trouble.”
As for Nakamura, he showed signs of stabilizing with a draw against Praggnanandhaa R, though even he acknowledged the uncertainty: “The final position is hard to judge—probably equal.”
The FIDE Candidates Tournament ends on April 16, 2026, with the final classical round taking place on April 15 and the last day reserved for potential tiebreaks and the closing ceremony.
