Special Guest Update: Hikaru Nakamura at the GRADE Metros!
Hello!
Many of you have asked about Hikaru’s level of participation in the GRADE Metros, and we’re excited to share more details.
First, we at Official Chess are incredibly grateful that Hikaru has chosen to take time out of his incredibly busy schedule to spend the weekend with our kids, and on Mother’s Day weekend no less. It means a great deal to our entire community.
Hikaru will be in attendance both Saturday and Sunday (May 9-10). Those registered will receive more information, but here’s what to expect:
Saturday (Opening Ceremony at 9:00 AM):
Hikaru will join us on stage to kick off the tournament with a few motivating words and make the ceremonial first move. Prediction markets currently have 1.e4 as the favorite
As a special treat, we will also invite the top-rated player in each section to join Hikaru on stage for photos and help him decide on that first move!
Sunday (Awards Ceremony ~3:45 PM):
He will return to the stage for a special Fireside Chat hosted by JulesGambit (Duolingo Ambassador and 150k-follower chess personality), sharing insights to inspire our incredible NY Metros players to their greatest heights. He will also take a few questions from the audience. We have a feeling some parents may be just as excited for this conversation.
Throughout the Weekend:
Hikaru will be around the venue, so keep your eyes peeled for a random 2800+ FIDE-rated player walking the halls. If you catch him, have your camera ready for that selfie.
If there are large crowds, we kindly ask parents to allow the kids first access, as he will understandably not have time for everyone.
Please join us in thanking Hikaru for generously spending the weekend inspiring our kids and the next generation of super grandmasters, both on and off the board.
If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, don’t let your kids miss out on another incredible event like we had in January. Thousands in the chess community will be talking about this one too. Entries are still available:
https://officialchess.org/event/grademetros2026/
Thanks.
OC
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Jan 2026 Metros Recap Video: Video Link
and US Chess Recap Article https://new.uschess.org/news/new-york-metro-scholastic-chess-championships-deliver-promise
