Fabiano Caruana emerges as the champion of the St. Louis Rapid & Blitz, showcasing his impressive comeback skills. Despite a slow start, Caruana managed to catch up with his rivals and secure a narrow victory in the final round.
In a surprising turn of events, winning the rapid portion of the tournament did not guarantee an overall win for the first time in its history. Ray Robson, the wildcard entry, initially dominated the slower time control games but faltered in the blitz rounds, allowing Caruana and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to take the lead.
Caruana’s triumph is particularly noteworthy considering his winless streak in the first five rounds. However, his determination and resilience paid off as he climbed back into contention by the end of the rapid games.
The closely matched field ensured that this year’s competition would yield lower scores compared to the previous year when Alireza Firouzja dominated with 26 points.
The game between Robson and Caruana perfectly exemplified the tight margins in the tournament. Caruana had the opportunity to secure the tournament win with a victory but found himself down a piece. Despite this setback, he fought back and managed to simplify the game into a theoretical draw. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse led to Caruana losing on time after move 111.
Thus, the final round became the deciding factor, with Caruana only needing a draw against Vachier-Lagrave. Both players continued to push for a win, but with seconds left on their clocks, a draw seemed inevitable. Caruana missed a chance for a forced draw but quickly recovered and trapped Vachier-Lagrave’s rook, securing the necessary half-point for victory.
Caruana’s win puts him in a favorable position in the Grand Chess Tour, with the prestigious Sinquefield Cup up next. The upcoming tournament, featuring classical time controls, will determine the likely Candidates spot contenders, including Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, and Wesley So.
Stay tuned for more exciting chess action on November 21!
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Fabiano Caruana | Overall Winner |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Runner-up |
| Ray Robson | Wildcard Entry |
Source: DOTESPORTS
