Hikaru Nakamura Sets a New Blitz Rating Record, Reaching 3416

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura made chess history by breaking his own record for the highest blitz rating on Chess.com, soaring to an unprecedented 3416 during a Titled Tuesday victory.

To put things into perspective, there are only 3 players on the website at the moment who have been able to breach the 3300 Elo mark, which includes Alireza Firouzja and Magnus Carlsen in addition to Nakamura. With an apparent rating inflation in online chess, the trio have been consistently enjoying the unprecedented 3300 club, with Nakamura even reaching 3350+. Nakamura, while reviewing his Titled Tuesday games, mentioned how he had been “farming” off stream, going into the weekly blitz tournament. Prior to the start of Titled Tuesday, Hikaru Nakamura had just ONE loss in his last 90 blitz games, which he had played across two days! Even though Hikaru’s opposition included FMs and IMs with ratings of about 2800, beating titled players with such consistency is something that only Nakamura can manage. Despite occasional criticism for farming lower-rated opponents, Nakamura’s ability to maintain such a stratospheric rating against elite competition—where a single loss can cost 16 points—underscores the magnitude of his accomplishment.

This remarkable achievement cements Nakamura’s status as one of the greatest blitz players of all time, pushing the boundaries of online chess dominance. Hikaru also surpassed his previous Chess.com blitz rating record of 3408, set in May 2025. The American grandmaster achieved this feat with a stunning performance, defeating top players like Jeffery Xiong and Hans Niemann in high-stakes matches during the Late Titled Tuesday on July 8. His relentless consistency, with 40,000 blitz games played on the platform since 2014, showcases his unparalleled skill and dedication.

Photo courtesy: Hikaru Nakamura’s Broadcast