This article (I read it) felt like a fluff piece to me. Nothing interesting in it about Nakamura nor chess in general.
The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
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Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#72While everyone is plugging their favorite streamers allow me to plug GothamChess. Definitely most entertaining for me as well as educational, followed by the Botez sisters, Agadmator and then Hikaru. I like watching him, but he plays lines that I can’t possibly hope to remember ( I’m around 1800 blitz / bullet ), and so it’s more like watching a magician. “So guys, let’s play the sodium…”
I used to play chess more but am too busy going through Blind 75 to go through chess problems. I don't even want to play a game of chess because I might feel the urge to play and study chess instead of grind Blind 75. I watch the Botez sisters as well. If I was playing more I might watch more streamers, but I hear enough of what's going on in the world of chess from them.
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#73For all of those getting excited about Hikaru in the candidates, keep in mind the 3 strongest players in the world who aren't Magnus didn't play in the FIDE Grand Prix for various reasons: Alireza Firouzja (already qualified), Ding Liren (weird travel restrictions) and Fabi (already qualified). At least two of them and likely all 3 are going to be in the candidates, so this is just going to be an entirely different l…
It's so weird to see so many people online going out of their way to explain why Hikaru won't do well. The eagerness to discredit him is just perplexing. He's earned the recognition already, he's a former #2 in the world and one of only a handful of players to ever have an ELO over 2800. Just enjoy his resurgence and see where it takes him.
I don't think anything about that comment was discrediting (and I generally enjoy Hikaru's content!). He was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix, but he's going to be tied for lowest rating in the candidates.
That's an exceedingly good argument that he's unlikely to do particularly well (and it's likely his betting market is somewhat inflated by his fan base, his real odds are probably lower!)
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#74For all of those getting excited about Hikaru in the candidates, keep in mind the 3 strongest players in the world who aren't Magnus didn't play in the FIDE Grand Prix for various reasons: Alireza Firouzja (already qualified), Ding Liren (weird travel restrictions) and Fabi (already qualified). At least two of them and likely all 3 are going to be in the candidates, so this is just going to be an entirely different l…
It's so weird to see so many people online going out of their way to explain why Hikaru won't do well. The eagerness to discredit him is just perplexing. He's earned the recognition already, he's a former #2 in the world and one of only a handful of players to ever have an ELO over 2800. Just enjoy his resurgence and see where it takes him.
And he's fun. People like him (and Magnus, and the Botez sisters) because they are fun.
On Twitch, the most successful players almost never have the most viewership.
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
The things I said are true of the poker player Doug Polk. Doug Polk was one of the best 2-player Texas Hold'em poker players on the internet for a couple of years, but only at a point in time where the format was pretty dead. I know very little about Hikaru Nakamura, but it sounds like Hikaru is a much greater chess player than Doug is a poker player. Which is fine, I guess the similarities lie elsewhere.
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You think heads-up NLHE found its peak popularity after Black Friday?
As for why it's obscure - that's a separate point. Heads-up poker, as a format, was obscure at its peak as it was when Doug Polk was at his, and as it is now. Poker is almost always played at a table with at least six seats, most often more. Heads-up is just tiny in comparison.
I just opened up my PokerStars client. Out of the many thousands of players currently playing, approximately 15 are playing heads-up cash games. And only two are playing heads-up cash games for medium or high stakes.
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#76He's live right now[1] going through this New Yorker article line-by-line. Offering some great clarifications, context, etc. The internet is great. 1- https://www.twitch.tv/gmhikaru
I missed it although I'm curious what he said. Do you mind summarizing a bit?
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's so weird to see so many people online going out of their way to explain why Hikaru won't do well. The eagerness to discredit him is just perplexing. He's earned the recognition already, he's a former #2 in the world and one of only a handful of players to ever have an ELO over 2800. Just enjoy his resurgence and see where it takes him.
I don't think anything about that comment was discrediting (and I generally enjoy Hikaru's content!). He was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix, but he's going to be tied for lowest rating in the candidates. That's an exceedingly good argument that he's unlikely to do particularly well (and it's likely his betting market is somewhat inflated by his fan base, his real odds are probably lower!)
"Hikaru was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix..." after winning the first Grand Prix in Berlin ... And assuring himself a place in the candidates tournament before the final Grand Prix had even finished?
I point out that its odd the number of people going out of their way to discredit Hikaru, so a bunch more people follow up by doubling down on discrediting Hikaru.
Anyways, if you're familiar with what makes Hikaru great, you understand why Hikaru has as good a chance as anyone.
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think anything about that comment was discrediting (and I generally enjoy Hikaru's content!). He was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix, but he's going to be tied for lowest rating in the candidates. That's an exceedingly good argument that he's unlikely to do particularly well (and it's likely his betting market is somewhat inflated by his fan base, his real odds are probably lower!)
"Hikaru was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix..." after winning the first Grand Prix in Berlin ... And assuring himself a place in the candidates tournament before the final Grand Prix had even finished? I point out that its odd the number of people going out of their way to discredit Hikaru, so a bunch more people follow up by doubling down on discrediting Hikaru. Anyways, if you're familiar with what mak…
> Hikaru was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix...
This is factually true. He was like 6/16 in elo in the first and 7/16 in the third leg. He'll be 8/8 in the candidates. Literally nothing I've said discredits him. His performance was unexpectedly strong, that's giving extra credit for an impressive performance. But I'm also realistic.
> Anyways, if you're familiar with what makes Hikaru great, you understand why Hikaru has as good a chance as anyone.
Lol no, and Hikaru would be the first to tell you he has at most an outside chance. You claim you're not defending Hikaru, but you really, really are. In fact, you're reading things into comments that weren't actually said, and assuming these things that weren't actually said are criticisms of Hikaru and it's worth asking yourself why you're doing that.
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#79While everyone is plugging their favorite streamers allow me to plug GothamChess. Definitely most entertaining for me as well as educational, followed by the Botez sisters, Agadmator and then Hikaru. I like watching him, but he plays lines that I can’t possibly hope to remember ( I’m around 1800 blitz / bullet ), and so it’s more like watching a magician. “So guys, let’s play the sodium…”
That's pretty close to my list as well. For me it's GothamChess > Agadmator > Hikaru. I don't care about the Botez sisters. But I watch only on Youtube.
1. GothamChess is the most educational and entertaining. The video format also varies quite a bit which helps.
2. Agadmator is less entertaining than Gotham, but very consistent.
3. Hikaru is of course very strong, but sometimes he doesn't care about explaining what he's thinking and even when he does its harder to follow.
I've ben watching Gotham and Agadmator, almost daily. My wife is a bit annoyed sometimes, but I remember it could be worse. I could be into football.
Re: The most popular chess streamer on Twitch
#80This article (I read it) felt like a fluff piece to me. Nothing interesting in it about Nakamura nor chess in general.
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