It was a nail-biter until the end of the final round, but Fabiano Caruana held off Wesley So 8/12 to 7.5/12 to win his fourth consecutive United states Championship and fifth title over all. He ties Bobby Fischer for second-most consecutive victories. Samuel Reshevsky won five consecutive titles.
With two games left, both Caruana and So won thweir 10th round games in wold fashion. With the White pieces Caruana defeated Abbi Mishra while So rebounded from a lost position to defeat Dariusz Swiercz, who succumbed as much to time pressure as So’s attack. Then in round 11 Caruana and Levon Aronian agreed to a fast draw.
“My last game was so unremarkable…I got in a position I’m completely unfamiliar with – he plays a King’s Indian attack and I’m there very nervous,” Fabi confided to Maurice Ashley in a post-game interview. “I don’t know what the plan is. I’m worried he’s going to start attacking me. We already have the structure where he played e5, and then I’m like “I have to push my queenside pawns,” and he’ll attack, and we’ll have a mess…and he just offers a draw,” he concluded, laughing.
Then Grigoriy Oparin held off a furious last-ditch attack from a desperate So, who needed a win to force a playoff with Caruana, but could not break through Oparin’s ferocious defense.
“I owe Gregoriy dinner for that,” Caruana quipped. “Wesley too!” Caruana added, who then made good later that night as they all went out to celebrate together as friends and colleagues.
Of ,course they were on their phones analyzing moves. Chess Players…
With the triumph, Caruana passes Hikaru Nakamura as the second highest rated chess player in the world. Magnus Carlsen rmains number one. World number 10 Dukesh G is the reigning world champion. No rest for the weary, Caruana begins a four-way showdown with Carsen, Nakamura, and Gukesh tomorrow.
