Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen: head-to-head — careers, honours, key numbers and why the rivalry matters.
Why compare Hikaru Nakamura and Magnus Carlsen?
Nakamura's rivalry with Magnus Carlsen is one of the most prominent in chess, marked by numerous encounters in rapid and blitz formats. Their matches often draw significant attention, with both players being top contenders in their era.
Hikaru Nakamura
Key numbers
- FIDE Rating2792 (June 2026)
- Peak Rating2816 (October 2015)
- Current RankingNo. 3 (June 2026)
- Peak RankingNo. 2 (October 2015)
Top honours
- U.S. Chess ChampionFive-time champion
- World Fischer Random Chess Champion2022
- Chess Olympiad Team Gold Medal2006
- Chess Olympiad Team Bronze MedalsTwo-time winner
VS
Magnus Carlsen
Key numbers
- World Championship Titles5
- World Rapid Titles6
- World Blitz Titles9
- FIDE Ratings2841 (June 2026)
- Peak Rating2882 (May 2014)
Top honours
- World Chess Champion2013 – 2023
- World Rapid Chess ChampionSix-time champion
- World Blitz Chess ChampionNine-time champion
- FIDE Freestyle Chess World ChampionReigning champion
- Highest FIDE Rating2882 (May 2014)