Hikaru Nakamura Dominates to Claim 62nd Bullet Brawl Title in Thrilling Showdown
Nakamura Dominates to Claim 62nd Bullet Brawl Title
July 18, 2026 — In a thrilling display of speed and strategy, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura clinched his 62nd Bullet Brawl title just 48 hours after declaring that the 3+0 time control is his “best.” Competing against an elite field of chess prodigies, Nakamura surged to victory with a remarkable score of 168 points, solidifying his status as the reigning champion of the fast-paced arena.
The Bullet Brawl, a weekly event on Chess.com, attracted some of the best bullet specialists, including International Master Faustino Oro, who finished in second place with 146 points, and Grandmasters Oleksandr Bortnyk and Ediz Gurel, who took home third and fourth place with scores of 140 and 137, respectively. Nakamura’s victory earned him a $400 prize, while Oro received $250, and Bortnyk and Gurel were awarded $150 and $100.
Nakamura’s path to victory was anything but straightforward. The competition was fierce, with four of the top 20 players on the site’s bullet leaderboards vying for supremacy. Early on, Iranian IM Reza Mahdavi held the lead, but it was Bortnyk who soon took charge, extending his margin to eight points after a stunning nine-game winning streak. However, his reign was cut short when he suffered four consecutive losses, allowing Nakamura to capitalize and take the lead.
Once Nakamura hit the front, he never looked back. With an impressive eight-game winning streak towards the end of the tournament, he outmaneuvered challengers like Oro and Gurel, ultimately finishing 22 points ahead of the second-placed Oro. His decisive victories included a clinical win over IM Sven Tica and a spectacular finish against Mahdavi, showcasing his tactical prowess and ability to exploit opponents’ mistakes.
As the world number three, Nakamura has now won 13 titles in 14 starts this year, inching closer to breaking his own record of 19 wins in a calendar year. With several months still to go, chess enthusiasts are eagerly watching to see if he can achieve this remarkable feat.
The next edition of Bullet Brawl is set to take place on Saturday, July 25, at 12 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CET, promising another round of exhilarating chess action.
For full standings and game reviews, visit Chess.com.