Michelle Zhang, a pre-teen chess enthusiast, showcased her skills against the renowned chess player Hikaru Nakamura during the Maritime Open Chess Championship in Summerside, P.E.I. Over the weekend, Nakamura, the world No. 2 player, surprised participants by joining the tournament as a last-minute addition.
At just 12 years old, Zhang, residing in Halifax and playing chess since the age of 6, held her ground against Nakamura for 65 moves in the first-round match. Despite feeling a mix of nerves and excitement upon learning Nakamura would be her opponent, Zhang, a follower of Nakamura’s online chess streams, found the experience both thrilling and surreal.
Nakamura, likened to a celebrity among chess players and fans at the event, viewed his participation as a way to give back to the chess community and fulfill his requirement of playing 11 classical-rated chess games before the year-end for qualifying in the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament.
Following the match, Nakamura praised Zhang’s skills in a post-match YouTube recap, acknowledging her strategic gameplay and offering constructive feedback on areas for improvement. Zhang, eager to learn and grow in the game, found the experience educational and motivating, expressing her desire to enhance her skills further without a specific dream outcome in mind.
With a significant age gap between them, Zhang remains hopeful for future opportunities to face Nakamura again, focusing on continuous improvement and dedication to the game.