Alireza Firouzja Walks Out After Technical Glitch at EWC 2026 Chess Match; Hikaru Nakamura Apologises
Hikaru Nakamura has apologised and withdrawn his earlier criticism of Chess.com after a chaotic third-place match against Alireza Firouzja at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris ended abruptly following technical problems.
A technical failure disrupted the third-place chess match between Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC), with Firouzja leaving the arena and Nakamura later apologising after initially blaming Chess.com for the incident. Nakamura was awarded the match 3-1 after Firouzja forfeited following a prolonged interruption, according to a report.
The incident occurred during the fourth game, when Nakamura was leading the match 2-1. Both players had experienced connection problems, and the disruption eventually brought the contest to an unexpected end. Chess at Esports World Cup 2026: Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Pranesh M Vie for Playoffs Spots on Day 2 of Group Stage.
Technical Problems Disrupt Match
The match was already underway when repeated disconnections affected play. During the fourth game, a technical issue led to a lengthy pause as officials attempted to resolve the problem.
According to Hindustan Times, Firouzja became frustrated after about five minutes of disruption and left the arena. Nakamura initially expected his opponent to return but was left waiting for roughly 20 minutes before officials informed him that the match would be recorded as a forfeit. The disruption was not limited to chess. Nakamura later said the technical failure was an EWC-wide issue that had affected several events. D Gukesh Loses Against Alireza Firouzja, Finishes Eighth in Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour 2025.
Nakamura Initially Blames Chess.com
After the match was awarded to him, Nakamura criticised Chess.com, believing the platform was responsible for the connection failure. He later acknowledged that he had reached the wrong conclusion because he did not have access to his phone or outside information while waiting for the officials' decision.
Nakamura said the first indication on his screen had appeared as a disconnection, leading him to assume the problem originated with Chess.com. He subsequently learned that the issue was with the Esports World Cup itself.
Nakamura Apologises and Retracts Remarks
Nakamura later issued an apology to Chess.com and retracted his earlier criticism.
He said he had been frustrated and had "jumped to conclusions" before receiving the full explanation of what had happened. He also said he wished the technical situation had been explained to him before he was taken for post-match interviews. The American grandmaster said the EWC technical problem had affected multiple events and was not solely related to the chess competition.
Why Did Firouzja Leave?
Firouzja's decision to leave came when Nakamura was close to extending his lead to 3-1. The exact circumstances surrounding Firouzja's decision were not fully explained publicly, but the available reports indicate that the repeated technical interruptions and lack of a quick resolution contributed to his frustration.
Because the next game in the format begins immediately after the previous one, the disruption also affected the rhythm of the match. Both players had faced technical difficulties during the contest.
Nakamura Finishes Third
With Firouzja forfeiting the match, Nakamura officially finished third at the EWC Chess competition. The result earned Nakamura $145,000, while the official EWC standings list Magnus Carlsen as champion, Alireza Firouzja second and Nakamura third. Carlsen successfully defended his EWC chess title after defeating Denis Lazavik in the final.
Possible Action Against Firouzja
The incident could still have consequences for Firouzja, although no disciplinary action has been confirmed.
Hindustan Times reported that any action would depend on the tournament stakeholders and whether they considered his departure a breach of the competition's expectations or rules. Firouzja has previously been involved in disputes over playing conditions, including an incident at the 2021 Tata Steel tournament.
For now, the EWC incident has left the focus on the tournament's technical problems, Firouzja's walkout and Nakamura's subsequent clarification and apology.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2026 09:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
