‘Are We Mossad Agents?’ Hikaru Nakamura Feels ‘No Point In Arguing’ With Candidates Regulations

Last Updated:April 02, 2026, 21:27 IST

Nakamura expressed his frustration with the excessive regulations in place likening the players to agents of Israel in Iran, in a ‘too soon?’ moment.

Hikaru Nakamura. (X)

World No.2 Hikaru Nakamura, gave a scathing review of FIDE’s excessive anti-cheating rules at the Candidates tournament, underway in Cyprus as the American expressed his frustration with the excessive focus laid on claims around cheating in the sport, in a podcast on his YouTube channel.

“My general view about the whole topic of delay, cheating over-the-board, and all this stuff is that I frankly think it’s nonsense,” Nakamura said.

“Considering the amount of machines they have to scan the players in the room, it’s all complete nonsense. I really do.”

“It’s not that I have any problems with it. I just think that the fears some players have expressed are completely overblown. I’m just going to be honest, they scan us before the game. They scan us after the game. They have the metal detector. They have a variety of other separate scanners.”

Nakamura went on to take a shot at FIDE likening the players to agents of Israel in Iran, in a ‘too soon?’ moment though perhaps.

“I mean, who are we? Are we like Mossad agents inside Iran or something? Come on, we’re chess players! Let’s be real,” he continued.

“I haven’t voiced this opinion to FIDE. I don’t really see a reason to. When I look at FIDE or the things being done, I really have no point in arguing with them or saying anything.”

“My general view is that it’s all overblown. At a smaller open tournament where you don’t have all these scanners and equipment, I can understand the concerns.”

“But at an event like this, where everybody is in a room, there are arbiters watching everyone, and cameras on everyone, without inside help, nothing can happen,” the 38-year-old said.

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