EP 164 | Hikaru Goes To The Farm

Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast

The Dojo (GM Jesse Kraai, IM David Pruess, IM Kostya Kavutskiy) discuss Hikaru Nakamura's path to the candidates, along with who they'd like to see qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament.

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00:00 – Intro & Setup
01:31 – Is Hikaru the Exception?
08:36 – Balancing Streaming, Training, and Competition
09:23 – The Busy Chess Calendar
10:55 – Strength of the Tournament
14:39 – Ethics of Rating Manipulation
17:39 – Die-Hard Rules vs. Fair Play
22:27 – Mathematical Loopholes in Ratings
27:15 – Impact on Future Candidates
31:20 – Who Deserves to Be in the Candidates?
55:00 – Alternative Qualification Systems
58:33 – Broader Trends in Chess Ratings
1:00:12 – Closing Thoughts & Wrap-Up