India, Feb. 17 -- Hikaru Nakamura is no stranger to controversy. Known for his candid remarks, he has previously accused Hans Niemann of cheating and made various allegations during his live streams. However, in this instance, it appears that he was unaware of the recent issues surrounding Samay Raina when he commented on the Indian comedian.

Raina has gained recognition among chess enthusiasts for his catchphrase "OP" and has significantly contributed to the promotion of chess through his online shows during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many attribute the surge in chess's popularity to his efforts.

Currently, Raina is facing scrutiny due to a contentious YouTube video. The incident occurred on his show, India's Got Latent, where a guest, Ranveer Allahbadia, made an inappropriate remark involving incestuous abuse. Following this, all episodes of India's Got Latent have been removed, and at least two FIRs have been filed against Raina and his guests, including Allahbadia.

During the recent Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event, it was clear that Nakamura was unaware of Raina's predicament, as he expressed a desire to meet him. In an interview with ChessBase India, he mentioned his plans to visit India later this year for the FIDE World Cup and expressed enthusiasm about meeting Raina.

"It would be fun to finally meet Samay! I think I haven't met him yet. I know he's in the US and he's done some stuff (performing in stand-up shows in the USA and UK). It would be a lot of fun (to meet Samay)," he stated.

"It's remarkable to see - obviously I don't follow Indian culture super closely - but at the start of the pandemic, he was somewhat of a comedian, and now he's a major superstar! It's incredible to witness what he has accomplished in both comedy and chess. I hope to have the opportunity to meet him," he added.

The Weissenhaus Grand Slam event also featured D Gukesh, but the reigning world champion experienced a winless performance, finishing in eighth place.