The Inevitable Rematch: Magnus vs. Hikaru

Brady vs. Manning, Magic vs. Bird, Tiger vs. Phil, Messi vs. Ronaldo, Serena vs. Venus, Ali vs. Frazier. These are the names we think of when we hear the word “rivals”. Two competitors fighting it out for all the glory and the right to call themselves the superior player. Magnus Carlsen has long been the king of chess, conquering everyone that steps into his path, but now a new challenger emerges backed by a following of over half a million. Hikaru Nakamura, the warlord, leads his followers into battle.

 Hikaru Nakamura is Magnus Carlsen’s biggest threat and could cement himself as Magnus’s greatest rival without ever playing a world championship match. If Hikaru could pull off the upset and defeat Magnus in this year’s speed chess championship it would send shockwaves throughout chess, Hikaru Nakamura would become the first person to ever defeat Magnus twice in their head to head matches. His first win came in the Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge earlier this year. By winning the SCC Hikaru would surely prove himself as the better blitz player, at least online. If Hikaru wins would he be recognized as the better player in the faster time controls?

 Nobody is questioning Magnus’s dominance in classical chess after all he had a streak of 200 games unbeaten. He is the world champion and is in my opinion the G.O.A.T, but I believe chess needs to get quicker to keep up with its growing popularity online. Hikaru has said himself he believes rapid and blitz to be the future of chess and I tend to agree with him. If Hikaru Nakamura can defeat Magnus Carlsen in this year's Speed Chess Championship, he will surely cement himself as Magnus’s greatest ever rival.

Do you think rapid and blitz is the future of chess? How long will the rivalry last? Who do you have winning the SCC?