World number one Magnus Carlsen and number two Hikaru Nakamura played their first blindfold game at ICE Barcelona, ending in a draw after a tactical battle. The exhibition, commentated by IM Levy Rozman, featured discussions on chess's evolution and emotions. Both players showcased impressive memory and calculation under a 15-minute time control.
At ICE Barcelona 2026, the world's largest gaming and betting industry exhibition, Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura captivated audiences with a historic blindfold chess match on Tuesday, January 21. Sponsored by Betby—Carlsen's partner since 2024—the event included panel discussions moderated by popular streamer Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, followed by the novelty blindfold game and fan interactions.
Carlsen, playing white, opened with 1.Nf3 in a Reti setup, surprising expectations of the Catalan. Nakamura responded with the solid Agincourt Defense. The 15-minute game without increments turned tactical in the middlegame: Carlsen captured a central pawn, but Nakamura countered brilliantly with 26...Bxe3!!, sacrificing a bishop, and then 27...Rxd5!, an exchange sacrifice forcing perpetual check. The game drew after 37 moves by repetition, both players achieving 96 percent accuracy despite not seeing the board.
"It was very interesting because, all of a sudden, it just exploded with tactics," Carlsen remarked afterward. The duo also played blitz games against fans, including Argentinian GM Tomas Sosa, coach to prodigy IM Faustino Oro.
In panels, they addressed chess's post-pandemic boom. Nakamura reflected, "If I look back to 2018-2019, I never could've imagined that the whole chess boom would be what it is today, but I think the chess world is much better off because of it." He criticized FIDE for prioritizing organization over players, hindering monetization. Carlsen discussed emotions, like his Qatar camera incident: "What happened now in Qatar, it was pure emotions... I’m proud of that."
Carlsen revealed he seriously considered the Tata Steel Chess tournament but opted out after his son's birth in late September, citing fatigue and a desire for rest. He is confirmed for the TePe Sigeman tournament in Malmo, Sweden, from May 1-7, and his 14th Norway Chess in Oslo from May 25 to June 5.
The event highlighted chess's shift toward rapid formats and online growth, with Carlsen noting how algorithms keep the game visible since 2023.