Hikaru Nakamura dropped a significant hint about stepping away from top-level classical chess, suggesting that Norway Chess 2025 might be his final outing in this format."I had a feeling this is most likely the last time I'll be playing a classical tournament here, and if I don't qualify for the Candidates, very likely the last time I play a top-level game against this calibre of competition.

Do I want to try & go out in glory & blow up completely?" he was quoted as saying by chess.comEarlier, the American Grandmaster, known for his aggressive style and rapid chess prowess, reflected on the challenges of staying motivated after years of competing at the highest level." I try to pick and choose the tournaments I participate in. When you start playing too many events, you lose motivation. ""You see the same faces, you get the same openings. It becomes very monotonous, very boring. So for myself, when I pick and choose tournaments these days," he had told theindianexpress.com in an exclusive chat. Nakamura also emphasised the importance of innovative tournament formats to keep the excitement alive."As long as there's a different format, maybe it's fast games, or maybe as you play slow games, but then there is an Armageddon, like in Norway Chess. As long as the format is a little different from the classical, something other than the boring nine-round tournament, I always enjoy playing. That's actually the thing that keeps me motivated: just trying these tournaments that have these exciting new formats."While Nakamura hasn't officially confirmed his retirement from classical chess, his remarks suggest a looming transition, perhaps signalling a shift toward faster formats and selective appearances in global events.