Everyone's favorite: A modern Kortchnoi seeking to change his history

Fabiano Caruana (USA)

* Date of birth: July 30, 1992 (33 years old)

* Age as GM: 14 years, 11 months

* Ranking: 2024 FIDE Circuit Winner

* Maximum ELO rating: 2844

* Profile: The veteran of the elite. After narrowly missing the world title in 2018, he arrives as the overwhelming favorite based on his ranking and experience.

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Impressive preparations lead to impressive games.

The games I'm about to share are brilliant, but they involve meticulous preparation.

After seeing what some know as Caruana's immortal, we will see another queen sacrifice that Caruana himself confessed that by the time the game ended it had only consumed five minutes of his time.

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Playing like a machine

He is capable to beat an elite player with almost 100% accuracy.

Runs of computer moves in complex positions.

This type of precise sequence allows Caruana to modify the evaluation of a position. This is one of the characteristics that makes Caruana an excellent defender. He knows how to create problems and can quickly transition from defense to attack.

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A feat few have achieved: Defeating Carlsen multiple times in classical chess.

Let's look at an example

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The most experienced in Candidates tournaments

For many involved in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the experience will be new, but Caruana's case is different. Fabiano Caruana has qualified for every Candidates Tournament held since 2016. His worst performance to date was in 2022, and although 2020/21 wasn't statistically a bad tournament for him, he failed to break away from the average and finished far behind the winner, Ian Neponmniatchi. Although, ironically, many remember the tournament for Ian's victory and the Caruana-Vachier game.

As most readers know, Caruana won the Candidates Tournament in 2018. However, in 2016 and 2024, he needed to win in the final round to qualify as a challenger. In 2016, he lost to Karjakin, who went on to win the tournament, and in 2024, he was unable to convert a winning position against Nepo. He knows what it means to fail and also what it means to succeed.

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The last word

Caruana has been, after Carlsen, the most consistent player of the last ten years. He doesn't need much praise. If we're talking about classical chess, wherever he goes he's one of, or in most cases the, main favorite..