TSM parts ways with Chess Grandmaster and streamer, Hikaru Nakamura

After almost two years in partnership, North American powerhouse, TSM parts ways with Chess Grandmaster, Hikaru Nakamura.

TSM posted a parting message to the American streamer, "You brought the love of Chess to thousands of people. You represented the black and white with pride and conquered countless titles along the way. You're going to crush your tournaments and we'll always support you."

In the announcement video, Hikaru Nakamura also gave his farewell, thanking the organization and those who have supported him. "While I've been with TSM for the past two years, the time has come for a change. I would like to express my gratitude to the TSM organization as a whole for the experiences, for the streaming room, where I was able to stream for so many days and create so many memorable moments."

Hikaru Nakamura appeared in TSM videos a number of times where he battled or coached TSM members in Chess. He was also featured in TSM's bootcamp tour, where he was shown using the stream room.

TSM acquired the popular Grandmaster in August 2020 - right after his streaming channel blew up. With COVID-19 pandemic bringing Chess events and tournaments online, more people started playing the game. Hikaru Nakamura entered the streaming scene and for the first time, Twitch had the presence of an apex chess player.

For long-time Chess nerds, the arrival of Hikaru Nakamura on Twitch was something surreal. Hikaru Nakamura is the number one Chess player in the blitz and rapid category. He stands on par with the world's top players, setting multiple global records from a very young age. Due to the presence of a professional on Twitch, a Chess Fever sparked with almost every top streamer participating on the hype train.

Nakamura's Twitch account now hosts 1.4 million followers - a rare milestone in the Chess category. Most recently, he also qualified for the Candidates Tournament, which was something not many expected.

He was, of course, one of the most decorated Chess players in the world. However, most of the community expected him to underperform due to Hikaru Nakamura focusing on a full-time streaming career. While he might seem nonchalant about the achievement, it is very significant as the Candidates Tournament might allow him the opportunity to challenge the world champion, Magnus Carlsen. The tournament will begin on June 16, which is about 3 weeks from now.

Following today's announcement, TSM and Hikaru Nakamura will move on separately and we'll no longer see the streamer in TSM's colors.

Stay tuned to Esports.gg for more streamer news and updates!