Professional chess grandmaster and streamer Hikaru Nakamura, also known as GMHikaru on Twitter and YouTube, has officially “parted ways” with eSports giant TSM FTX after two years.
The split appears to be friendly, as the official tweet on TSM FTX’s feed made the announcement with a short video from Nakamura himself:
Chess is a language and fandom of its own, and it isn’t a traditional game for streaming and broader audiences. But GMHikaru always found a way to keep it relevant, engaging and surprising.
He started a YouTube channel back in July of 2017, uploading countless tournaments, tutorials and more with hilarious thumbnails in order to invite both casual fans and pros alike. It’s a learning experience and entertainment all in one.
Announcement video details and explanation
In the video, Nakamura thanks a number of various people for his time and experiences with TSM FTX, including some appreciation for taking a chance on chess and giving him a streaming room to create memorable content.
GMHikaru places a big focus on the friendships he made, and support he received, during his time at TSM FTX. Unfortunately, according to Nakamura in the announcement video, it was simply time for a change. So, the true cause behind this move is still somewhat unclear.
Fans can still follow GMHikaru’s career beyond TSM FTX, but it was a momentous partnership that drew in a lot of gamers who might have otherwise ignored something as unique as chess.
GMHikaru has continued to dominate tournaments with creative plays and his personable attitude, and TSM FTX voiced their own thanks and continued support. Hopefully, fans of the org won’t stop showing him love either, so be sure to check out his YouTube channel here.
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