Nakamura Wins 73rd Bullet Brawl on Chess.com
Hikaru Nakamura took the title after winning six straight games to pass Ediz Gurel in the 225-player arena.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in eSports
Hikaru Nakamura won the 73rd Bullet Brawl on Chess.com on November 7, 2026, scoring 165 points. Ediz Gurel finished second with 153 points, and Parham Maghsoodloo took third with 141.
Why it matters
The result extends Nakamura's run of Bullet Brawl titles and shows how a late streak can overturn a leader in a fast-paced online arena. It also gives a clear reference point for the next edition's competitive field.
Nakamura finished with 165 points, ahead of Gurel's 153 and Maghsoodloo's 141 in a 225-player arena. Gurel had scored 26.5 of 30 points in the first hour and posted a 98.8% accuracy rating against Nakamura, but the stub does not say how these figures compare with earlier editions.
The players
Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura is a grandmaster and prominent online chess personality who has won multiple Bullet Brawl titles on Chess.com.
Ediz Gurel
Ediz Gurel is a Turkish grandmaster known for his strong play in fast online chess formats.
Chess.com
Chess.com is an online chess platform that hosts large arena tournaments such as the Bullet Brawl.
The details
Nakamura won six consecutive games to move past Gurel into the lead. Gurel had won a pawn against Faustino Oro with a tactic that consolidated his advantage, and Oro finished one point behind Maghsoodloo. Karina Ambartsumova won the $100 best women's prize from the $1,000 total fund.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: Bullet Brawl held and Nakamura wins the 73rd title.
November 14, 2026, 12 p.m. ET: Next Bullet Brawl edition begins.
Season Trajectory
The Bullet Brawl is a recurring 1+0 arena series on Chess.com, and this 73rd edition adds another title to Nakamura's record in the format. Its 225-player field and large prize pool place it among the platform's major online competitions.
Players tracking Bullet Brawl standings can use the 165-point winning score as a benchmark for the next edition. The result also shows that a six-game run late in an arena can outweigh an early lead.
The takeaway
A strong late run can decide an arena even after a rival builds a lead. Players entering the next Bullet Brawl can plan their pacing with that in mind.
What happens next
The next Bullet Brawl edition begins November 14, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET.
Further reading
For more on competitive online play, see eSports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chess.
