Denis Lazavik discussed his assessment of Hikaru Nakamura during an interview with Chess with Mustreader. The Belarusian player believes Nakamura's positional play contains real vulnerabilities, despite acknowledging that Nakamura is exceptionally strong. Lazavik contends that while Nakamura handles specific tactical moments and complex positions well, he frequently grants opponents chances through weak positional decisions.

Lazavik argues that his own playing style creates particular difficulties for Nakamura. He explained that Nakamura does not attempt to equalize from the opening with either color, allowing opponents to reach the clear, simple positions where Lazavik performs best. According to Lazavik, this dynamic stems from how opening play shapes the entire game that follows.

The Belarusian rejected the notion of complete dominance, asserting instead that he and Nakamura operate at comparable competitive levels. Lazavik noted that his struggles against other players stem primarily from opening considerations, since the opening phase determines the game's overall trajectory and presents challenges that impact everything that comes afterward.