Hikaru Nakamura, a professional Chess player and streamer, has signed with WME for worldwide representation.
What happened?
Nakamura, also known as GMHikaru, will have his business expanded across digital, literary, brand partnerships, non-scripted television, licensing, and more.
He has a large following on Twitch, with 1.4 million followers, and is the number one Chess streamer on the platform.
Why it matters for Hikaru Nakamura
Nakamura's signing with WME is a significant move, as he was previously represented by UTA.
This change is expected to help him grow his brand and business, particularly in the digital space, where he has already seen success with his Twitch stream and YouTube channel, which has 1.3 million followers and over 1,800 videos published in two and a half years.
What comes next?
Nakamura is set to compete in the 2022 Candidates Tournament in Spain on June 16, where the winner will qualify for the Challenger's spot against Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in the Chess World Championship 2023.
As a top-ranked speed Chess player, Nakamura has won five U.S. championships, and his fans will be eagerly watching his progress in the upcoming tournament.
Nakamura's experience hosting and creating Twitch's Chess.com Pogchamps tournament, which garnered 30 million total views, has also helped establish him as a prominent figure in the Chess streaming community.
With his new representation by WME, Nakamura is poised to continue growing his brand and business, both in the Chess world and beyond.