H-Bomb explodes in the
 Latest FIDE Rating charts 

    4/2/2005 -  The H-bomb explodes in the FIDE rating charts. Hikaru Nakamura jumped 54 spots from the 98th rated to the 43rd rated player in the world. Last January, Hikaru busted into the top 100 of the world. This time he busted into the top 50. Nakamura gained 37 rating points. He is currently rated 2657.

         Hikaru is currently the top rated US player. He passed Alexander Onischuk and Yasser Seirawan. I am not counting the retired Bobby Fischer and semi-retired Gata Kamsky. Nakamura has been on a tear recently. It all started back in August of 2004, when Hikaru got to the 4th round of the FIDE KO. He was finally stopped by the 7th rated player in the world Michael Adams.

    Nakamura then turned his attention to the US Championship in San Diego, where he took the lead from the beginning and took home first price.  A week later he was in Mexico taking on the other wonder kid – Sergey Karjakin. Sergey has Kramnik, Karpov and Deep Junior scalps on his belt. Nakamura dominated this exciting match by winning 4, losing 1 and drawing one game. 

   He also recently won the Foxwoods tournament in Connecticut, with a score of 7.5 out of eight. He finished ahead of GM Ildar Ibragimov and GM Alexander Ivanov.  At just 17 years of age, Nakamura is clearly the leader of US Chess. 

    He is also becoming a major international star. He should be getting more invitations to some of the top international tournaments in the world. Recently, he finished 4th at the B-section Corus tournament. Recently in an article in NIC, Nakamura said that there was no point in taking draws. It’s that kind of attitude, backed up with hard work that will launch Nakamura even higher. The sky is the limit for this chess stud. It’s going to become tougher and tougher, but I expect him to break thru the top 25 soon.

   In a recent NY Times  article, Nakamura said' "The way I play is very unique," It's more or less that fearlessness. I'll play some of these really crazy moves that people are not going to be expecting. The way I play is not like most people. The moves are more computeresque. They're not the moves that most humans are going to play."

    It is important that the US have international chess stars.  Garry Kasparov realizes the importance of promoting chess in the US. Kasparov and his foundation help trained the US Women's Olympiad team.  I hope the international chess scene recognizes the importance of promoting chess in the US. They can help out by inviting Nakamura to top GM tournaments.  Recently chess has been doing fine in the US, lets recall our US Women’s Olympiad team brought home Silver at Calvia in 2004. US chess can now add Hikaru Nakamura as a rising international star to its mantle. 
 

Hikaru Nakamura at Foxwoods 2005 
ChessBase story - http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2299
Washing post Article on Nakamura vs. Smirin at Foxwoods. 
Hikaru Nakamura wins the 2004 US White Knight MVP Award
Hikaru Nakamura - Chess Reporter 
US Women's Olympiad team brings home silver
Garry Kasparov and his Foundation - 2004 International White Knight Trailblazer Award
Other FIDE Rating Stories from Chess Reporter

Here is an excellent Article from the NY times about Nakamura rise 

HG