World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura (third from left) throughout a press convention forward of the WR Bughouse Championship. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–For Hikaru Nakamura, chess stays one of many few pursuits able to bringing individuals collectively no matter age, background or talent degree.
The American Grandmaster shared that view on Monday as he met Filipino followers in the course of the opening day of the WR Bughouse Championship at Grand Hyatt Lodge in Bonifacio World Metropolis.
“It’s an excellent ardour of mine to assist popularize chess on the planet, that’s why I got here right here,” mentioned Nakamura, the world’s No. 2-ranked participant behind Magnus Carlsen.
“I see younger and previous and even completed gamers like Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre, and on the finish of the day, the one factor that bonds us collectively is our nice love of chess.”
Nakamura drew a big crowd all through the day, signing autographs and posing for pictures with followers keen to satisfy one of many recreation’s largest stars.
“It’s seldom you get to see a No. 2 participant on the planet in particular person, so I’m joyful to get that probability myself,” mentioned Filipino lady Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna.
The 2-day match has attracted 75 groups from 22 international locations competing in bughouse, a variant of chess during which captured items are transferred to a teammate to be used on a neighboring board.
For WR Chess founder Wadim Rosenstein, that format provides everybody an opportunity.
“I’m higher in bughouse than in chess and right here we are able to all beat Grandmasters, even Magnus Carlsen,” he mentioned.
The occasion carries a complete prize pool of $100,000 (round P6.1 million).
