World No 2 Hikaru Nakamura blasts Fide over Candidates anti-cheating arrangements: 'Mossad agents inside Iran'

American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura slammed Fide for excessive anti-cheating measures in the ongoing Candidates tournament in Cyprus, questioning the governing body whether the players were being viewed as "Mossad agents in Iran" and labeling the entire process "complete nonsense".

The world No 2 made the sensational comment on his YouTube channel in a chat with GM Jon Ludvig Hammer and Woman International Master Fiona Steil-Antoni on the sidelines of the Candidates, where the American is one of eight competitors.

"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. Considering the amount of machines they have to scan the players in the room, it’s all complete nonsense. I really do," Nakamura said in the video posted on YouTube on Wednesday.

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"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. 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.

The timing of Nakamura's 'Mossad' comment is interesting considering USA and Israel's ongoing conflict with Iran in the Middle East, which had led to security concerns over the tournament taking place in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, located in close proximity.

No point discussing with Fide, adds Hikaru

Nakamura, however, added that he is yet to raise the matter with the Lausanne-based organisation, adding that he doesn't see any point in the same.

"Fide? No, of course, 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," Nakamura continued.

"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… I mean, without inside help, nothing can happen.

"I just think it’s all nonsense," he added.

Nakamura, who had secured his qualification for the Candidates as the highest-rated player, is currently joint-fourth in the standings after four rounds, with Thursday being the first 'Rest Day' of the tournament. The 38-year-old is making his fourth appearance at the Candidates, having finished joint-second in 2024 behind current World Champion D Gukesh.