February 1, 2024: 17-year-old Denis Lazavik beats Hikaru Nakamura 2-0 in the Chessable Masters Division I.
August 2026: Lazavik beats Nakamura 3.5-1.5 in the Esports World Cup semifinal in Paris. Afterward he says: "He does not know how to play at all! No jokes."
The Knight Move That Decided Game 1
Move 13. Hikaru (White) plays 13.Bh3. Stockfish says it is the 3rd best move (eval -4.52). The best was Be2 (eval -1.07).
Denis (Black) replies 13...Nb3! Stockfish says it is the #1 move (eval +4.10 for Black). The knight forks the rook on a1. After 14.O-O Nxa1, Denis is up the exchange.
The Training Lesson
Hikaru played the natural developing move. Denis looked for the forcing move. That is the whole difference.
Ask yourself in every position: "If I do not play the most forcing move here, what does my opponent get to do?"
Verified with Stockfish 19 at depth 24. Game scores from Chess.com broadcast, February 1, 2024.
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