Hikaru Nakamura took aim at Javokhir Sindarov's opening selection during their encounter at the Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown 2026. The World No. 2 expressed surprise at Sindarov's choice of a Scotch Game variation, suggesting it was an obscure line he had studied long ago.

Nakamura's criticism centered on the theoretical soundness of the position. He referenced his stepfather Sunil's familiarity with the variation, claiming that even at an advanced age, Sunil understood the theory better than a World Championship competitor would in that particular setup.

The tournament continues at the Saint Louis Chess Club in Missouri through October 29. Nakamura holds first place with 4 points, while Sindarov sits in second with 3.5 points. The two players have drawn both games they contested on the opening day of competition.