Hikaru Nakamura has made history by becoming the first ever 5-time Freestyle Fridays champion. This milestone was achieved on 4 July 2025. He scored an impressive 10 out of 11 points and remained undefeated throughout the event.
What Are Freestyle Fridays?
Freestyle Fridays are a popular chess tournament held weekly at Chess.com where top players compete in fast-paced games. Nakamura’s recent performance was outstanding, as he defeated several strong grandmasters, including Arjun Erigaisi, Vincent Keymer, and Aravindh Chithambaram, which made him the clear favorite by the middle of the tournament.
The highlight of the event was his 10-move victory over Arjun Erigaisi, a three-time winner of the event. This win gave Nakamura a half-point lead early on. He continued to dominate further against other tough opponents, reaching 8.5 points out of 9 rounds.
In a key match against GM Hans Niemann, Nakamura showed great skill and nerves to win during a time scramble, even though Niemann fought hard for a draw.
By the final round, Nakamura only needed a draw to secure the title, but chose to play aggressively and won in 22 moves. This strong finish earned him the title and the $400 prize for first place.
Hikaru Nakamura: The King Of Speed Chess
Nakamura’s recent run in Freestyle Fridays has been nothing short of spectacular. Over his last three tournaments, he has won twice and finished first each time, with a record of 29 wins, 3 draws, and just 1 loss. It’s proof why many consider him the king of speed chess.
Besides Nakamura, other players also had great performances. Fourteen-year-old WFM Diana Preobrazhenskaya won the best women’s prize by scoring 6.5 out of 11 and beating three grandmasters along the way.
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