Nakamura apologises after blaming chess.com for EWC technical chaos caused by organisers

Hikaru Nakamura finished third at the 2026 Esports World Cup after his match against Alireza Firouzja was marred by repeated disconnections and technical problems. Firouzja ultimately forfeited the match due to the disruptions. Nakamura initially blamed chess.com for the issues but later discovered the problems originated with the EWC organisers themselves. He publicly apologised for his hasty remarks and acknowledged he had jumped to conclusions. Despite the chaos, Nakamura walked away with $145,000 in prize money and key Club Championship points for his team, Falcons Esports.