OT: US GM Fabiano Caruana Earns Right to Play for World Chess Championship
He beat out some of the world's best at the Candidates Tournament in Berlin with a 9/14 score, including a sweep of favored GM Levon Aronian. Some controversy over whether he's the first American since Bobby Fischer to challenge (Gata Kamsky did it, but not under a universally-recognized/accepted chess authority).
March 28th, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
March 28th, 2018 at 10:10 AM ^
March 28th, 2018 at 10:18 PM ^
He can but if you put him there he can only run perpendicularly to the goal line and the sidelines.
March 28th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^
As one of the dozens (DOZENS!) of MGoUsers who followed the Candidates I heartily approve of this post. I was pulling hard for Caruana or Wesley So to get to challenge Magnus for the World Championship.
March 28th, 2018 at 10:24 AM ^
That got ugly for him pretty quickly. I'm pretty shocked that Aronian sucked so badly. Mamedyarov has played strong all year, so that wasn't as much of a shock. Old guard from the Russians looks like they're fading out pretty quickly.
Did you catch any commentary from chessbrahs? It's the first time I checked them out, but I really enjoyed their stuff, as well as the Chess24's duo.
It has been a really awesome time for sports, in general.
March 28th, 2018 at 12:35 PM ^
the highest, unfortunately. Much like Ivanchuk. Caruana finished really strong when things got tight. That bodes well for his match.
He cracks a great deal, sadly. I think he really feels the weight of his nation, so to speak.
Might be true. I find that nerves usually go away once the game starts, but they can affect your ability to get into the right frame of mind for a game or an event. I suspected he wouldn't contend when he let Ding off the hook in round one. It was the type of position right in his wheelhouse The counterintuitve and disastrous opening choices against Kramnik were painful to watch.
March 28th, 2018 at 10:16 AM ^
Can he beat AlphaGo?
March 28th, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
AlphaZero's games are nuts. It can get a little depressing playing computers, honestly.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
March 28th, 2018 at 11:32 AM ^
AlphaZero was so damn depressing. Taught itself chess knowing only the rules and absolutely crushed Stockfish, though there is some controversy over the computing strength/version of Stockfish at that game.
March 28th, 2018 at 12:38 PM ^
It was still impressive though.
against Stockfish, if you haven't I'd recommend it. Some of those moves were very uncomputer like! I'd like to buy a dumbed downversion, hopefully it will be made available to the public.
March 29th, 2018 at 12:15 AM ^
I only saw some commentary videos and didn't get into the games myself, but yeah I kept an eye on it. I'm not sure how accurate the results are, but in general, it said a bunch to me about AI's potential impact on our world.
the level and pretend the the silly moves were made under pressure. Works for me.
March 28th, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
we are either kings or pawns, emperors or fools.
- Napoleon Bonaparte
March 28th, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
March 28th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
#nopolitics
John Tyler sucks and should have been shunned. I'd gladly bring him back from the dead to punch him in the face.
Come at me, Mods.
after you. Two are still alive, no joke.
This is true. Had to look it up to believe it.
March 28th, 2018 at 10:20 AM ^
March 28th, 2018 at 10:30 AM ^
Maybe an interesting preview coming up, as they'll be in the Grenke Tournament very soon.
Also, looks like the Grand Chess Tour will suffer, as I doubt they'll play this year. Maybe Naka will get stronger.
March 28th, 2018 at 10:31 AM ^
Thanks for sharing. Used to follow as a kid back in India when chess matches used to finish faster than the speed of news.
*/ waves tiny flag for Vishwathan Anand /*
March 28th, 2018 at 11:09 AM ^
I'm so happy for Caruana. He came so close in the last Candidates Tournament (2016), missing out by half a point (IIRC). It would have been great for (American) chess since the Championship match took place in New York that year. Anyhow, I'm relieved we don't have to go through Carlsen-Karjakin again.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:12 AM ^
Heaven forbid!
March 28th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^
I think you speak for us all, pkatz.
clearly missed his calling as a Grandmaster of Grand Theft Auto.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
You know, people get down on him, but he took Magnus to the rapid tie-breaks. He played some solid chess, and he had a really good Candidates Tournament, where he could've won it all the way up to that last round, holding the tie-breaks over Caruana. He'll be back, for sure.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
The "Minister of Defense" is very good, don't get me wrong. I just think his style of play is less dynamic than some of the other candidates, such as Aronian and Caruana. Against Carlsen I think he was just trying to wear him out with draws, whereas Caruana will go for wins when it's there.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:21 AM ^
March 28th, 2018 at 11:15 PM ^
March 28th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
Caruana was very solid except for the Karjakin game. He had the most wins(3) with the black pieces.
I see that it has already been scheduled for London in the fall. Too bad, if it was in St. Louis, would have made a field trip.
There are some interesting games - Aronian-Kramnik showed Kramnik's class but unfortunately time has caught up with him. Aronian was really off - ? this was supposed to be a big year for him. He didn't seem his usual self.
Wesley So is a top 10 player but had a difficult time scoring with the white pieces.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
Carlsen's characterization of So seems accurate: Against the upper elite, he plays it very safe and goes for the draws; then he tries to get his points from inferior opponments. The strategy works well sometimes but not that well: you'll never win a Candidates tournament with it.
March 29th, 2018 at 12:12 AM ^
There are no inferior opponents to beat. On top of that, guys are bringing their A-games. I loved Griskchuk's novelties in the opening, for example, and that guy didn't make it into the top half of final standings.
that St Louis is going to offer a lot of money to take the bid from London.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:24 AM ^
Caruana was very solid except for the Karjakin game. He had the most wins(3) with the black pieces.
I see that it has already been scheduled for London in the fall. Too bad, if it was in St. Louis, would have made a field trip.
There are some interesting games - Aronian-Kramnik showed Kramnik's class but unfortunately time has caught up with him. Aronian was really off - ? this was supposed to be a big year for him. He didn't seem his usual self.
Wesley So is a top 10 player but had a difficult time scoring with the white pieces.
March 28th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
MVL has an interesting blog post up about So's development, saying that he's more of a counterattacking player who lacks a 'style.' I thought that was on display, here.
Kramnik started out very hot, but I think you're right; age has caught up with him. Dude never sought draws, and I loved his fighting spirit.
March 28th, 2018 at 12:20 PM ^
I keed, I keed!
March 28th, 2018 at 12:13 PM ^
Magnus Carlsen.
I wasn't even aware that the US had a General Manager.
Also: I am awful at chess and can't fathom this guys talents. However, I am world-class at eating chess pie, so I assume he would count me as his peer.
I've been following the Candidates tournament on the youtube channel "Agadmator".
He does an interesting commentary that's about medium technical, and throws in a lot of interesting observations from chess history and culture.
Congratulations to Fabiano Caruana.
March 29th, 2018 at 12:09 AM ^
I follow GMs Hansen & Seirawan chessbrah's stream which is hilarious and insightful. I also enjoy Chess24's duo of GMs of Gustafsson and Svidler. I will sometimes check out Agadmantor's post-mortems. He's solid.