Nihal Sarin Addresses Controversial Gesture During Online Chess Match

Nihal Sarin Responds to Controversy

Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has responded to a recent incident that stirred debate within the chess community during an online blitz match. The controversy arose when Armenian player Emin Ohanyan displayed an obscene gesture towards the screen after a tense endgame loss. This moment was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, eliciting strong reactions from fans and commentators.

Breaking his silence, Nihal took to social media to express his feelings, stating that he was not offended by Ohanyan's gesture. He wrote, “No big deal. Regarding the recent incident, I want to clarify that I was not offended. Things happen in the heat of the moment,” on his X account.

The incident took place during a blitz game on the Take Take Take app, part of the platform’s Titled Tuesday event. The match reached a critical endgame phase, with both players under significant time pressure.

During the match, Nihal had a slight advantage with a rook and a pawn, while Ohanyan was left with a bishop and a pawn. As the clock ticked down, both players needed to execute their moves with precision. The turning point came when Ohanyan made a hasty move, expecting a specific response from Nihal. However, Nihal quickly capitalized on Ohanyan's mistake by capturing his bishop, which secured his victory.

After realizing his error, Ohanyan reacted by standing up, showing his middle finger to the screen, and leaving the scene. The Take Take Take app later shared the video with the caption: “We’ve all been there,” which went viral and drew widespread criticism. Many fans supported Nihal, labeling Ohanyan's reaction as inappropriate.

In response to the backlash, the platform removed the video and issued a statement regarding the incident. They clarified, “We don’t interpret the hand gestures to be towards Nihal, but towards the computer/game itself. If it was intended towards Nihal, we obviously do not condone that or want to normalize it. However, a little rage after losing a game is not out of the ordinary.”

Nihal's composed response has helped ease the tensions surrounding the incident, as he views the moment as an emotional reaction rather than a personal attack.