Hans Niemann Takes Massive Dig At Hikaru Nakamura, Claims 'Double Standard'
American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann has taken a massive dig at compatriot Hikaru Nakamura, questioning why the latter is allowed to wear headphones during his games while no one else is, claiming that he has a 'clear competitive advantage' and pointing out the 'double standard'.
One of the most popular chess streamers in the world, Nakamura has close to five million followers across YouTube and Twitch, an American video live-streaming service popular in video games.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
First Indian rock band on America's Got Talent is from Northeast
Growing up in Sikkim's Gangtok on a steady diet of gritty tunes and razor-sharp riffs by pioneering hard rock icons like The Eagles and Guns N' Roses and local rock talent like CRAB and Still Waters, members of the four-piece Girish and The Chronicles never concerned themselves with conforming to India's mainstream music scene — one that is often dominated by film music and represented abroad through Indian classical music. The band, instead, for the last 16 years, doubled down on a sound that was unmistakably rooted in classic Western hard rock and metal. But even for a band which built its identity on a genre far away from typical national temper and trends, they never factored in America's Got Talent: one of the most popular TV shows in the world. Their breakout moment on the show's Season 20 last week: a roaring performance of Adele's 'Set fire to the rain' in the audition round knocked the socks off of the frenzied audience and judges — Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B — not expecting an Indian rock band to perform actual hard rock. Just as the band flung itself into the pop song with distorted guitars and Girish's unhinged voice, all four were stunned, followed by an enthusiastic standing ovation and a resounding entry into the next round. 'The whole experience was surreal… it was electrifying… something we'll never forget. Years of touring, dreaming, and staying true to our sound led up to that moment. We're just incredibly grateful to be part of something this big, and to share a piece of our journey with the world,' said frontman Girish Pradhan in an email conversation with The Indian Express. 'You come from the other side of the globe and do something so traditionally American.. It was so beautiful,' said Howie Mandel on the show. On Friday last week, hot on the heels of their now viral performance with 1.7 million views, the Bengaluru-based band — comprising vocalist Girish, guitarist Suraz Sun, bassist Yogesh Pradhan (also Girish's younger brother), and drummer Nagen Nags – with their long tresses cascading behind and goatees that harked back to the 90s, sang a set at the Capital's newly opened The Piano Man. As if plucked straight from the golden age of rock 'n' roll and planted in the cosy live music venue, the band had those present flipping out as frontman Girish's soaring vocals pierced through with the song 'Rock n roll is here to stay'. With limbs pounding, someone from the crowd screamed, 'AGT winners'. Girish obliged by crooning the performance from the show. 'The outpouring of love and support we have received from across the globe has been overwhelming in the best way possible. It's a reaffirmation of everything we've worked so hard for, and a reminder of how far we've come,' said Girish. It all started when a producer from America's Got Talent reached out to Girish via Instagram, after seeing a soundcheck video he had posted from a show at Independence Rock Festival in Mumbai. 'That conversation opened the door for us to pursue AGT, and the rest followed naturally,' says Girish, who identifies the global perception of Indian music, which is traditionally centred around classical genres and Bollywood. 'But as a band, we never set out to fit into that mould. Coming from Sikkim, we were already on the periphery of the mainstream spotlight – and in many ways, that gave us the freedom to chart our own course…We're not trying to redefine what it means to be Indian. We are simply sharing our story,' says Girish. Girish and his younger brother Yogesh are the sons of Bimla Pradhan, a well-known Nepali folk and classical singer, and football commentator Shyam Pradhan, who was deeply passionate about music, and also the band's first manager, mentor and financier. While the brothers grew up with the traditional sound of folk music at home, they were soon drawn to Northeast's deep connection with rock and metal.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Turnstile drops new album and announces 2025 Tour across US
American rock band Turnstile has announced a major headlining US tour for 2025, just days after releasing their highly anticipated new album, NEVER ENOUGH, on June is known for its energetic live shows and unique sound that blends hardcore, punk, and alternative rock. The band is ready to bring its latest music to fans across the Begins in Septemberadvertisement As reported by Pitchfork, THE NEVER ENOUGH TOUR kicks off on September 15 in Nashville, Tennessee, and concludes on October 19 in Orlando, the tour, the band travels to cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and many Lineup of Supporting ActsTurnstile will be accompanied by a rotating cast of supporting acts featuring Amyl & The Sniffers, Blood Orange, and Mannequin and Jane Remover will perform at every stop on the tour, creating a thrilling combination of styles and high-energy addition to the tour, Turnstile will play two major festivals: Aftershock Festival in Sacramento on October 3, and III Points Festival in Miami on October will have access to a pre-sale beginning on Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. local time through to Consequence Net, there is also a Live Nation pre-sale that day at noon using the code TREBLE. General ticket sales begin Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m. local Receives Early PraiseNEVER ENOUGH has already been named one of the best metal and hard rock albums of 2025 by has been touring Europe and is set to perform at Ottawa Bluesfest on July 12 before returning to North America.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Simone Biles issues apology to Riley Gaines after explosive feud: 'It didn't help'
Simone Biles has issued an apology after exchanging barbs with former swimmer Riley Gaines. The duo erupted in an explosive feud over the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports. However, on Tuesday, Biles apologized for her remarks against Gaines and emphasized the responsibility of sports organizations to balance inclusivity with fair competition. The American gymnast said that 'competitive equity & inclusivity' were an essential part of sports. 'The current system doesn't adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn't help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for,' she added. Simone Biles continued, 'My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over.' She ended her post by saying, 'We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful.' The former swimmer said that she accepted the apology. Calling Simone Biles the 'greatest female gymnast of all time', Riley Gaines invited her 'to support fair sports and a future for female athletes. Little girls deserve the same shot to achieve that you had.' A war of words erupted between the two athletes last week after Gaines criticized Minnesota's Champlin Park softball team for reportedly including a 17-year-old trans player in their squad. This caught the attention of Biles, who called Gaines 'sick' and a 'sore loser.' The feud escalated, with the 11-time Olympic medalist calling on Gaines to 'bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.' There has been a long-running debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard stance on the matter, passing an executive order in February to remove transgender athletes from sports that didn't match their biological sex. She is an American gymnast who has won 11 medals at the Olympics. The gymnast has seven Olympic gold medals to her name. She became the first female American gymnast to win four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
