Fabiano Luigi Caruana – sounds Italian, and it is. On July 30, 1992, Caruana was born to parents from Italy in Miami, Florida. The family later lived in New York, where the boy’s extraordinary talent was noticed at school chess. He was already giving simultaneous performances at the age of ten.
It was not least because of his talent that the family moved to Madrid in 2004. The junior was to live closer to the European chess and tournament scene. His path as a professional was mapped out, and it was to lead him to a world championship match against Magnus Carlsen in 2018. Although it was lost in a tie-break, Caruana can claim to have delivered a match on equal terms with his final opponent in chess.
His perception in the general public as a chess nerd stems from this match, a cliché that the media also gave him because of his harry-potter-like appearance. The reality could hardly be more different. As a commentator, podcast host or regular interview guest, Caruana shows himself to be an astute observer of the scene, a charming chatterbox and a gifted chess explainer. His appearances in the G.O.A.T-Challenge stream with Tania Sachdev and Peter Leko will be highlights of chess TV from the German Baltic.
His chess is courageous, often double-edged, characterized by forward momentum, not at all as well-behaved as Fabiano Caruana looks. He is also exceptionally tough in tournaments. One of his greatest strengths is coming back after losses, says Caruana about Caruana.
“Fabi”, as he is commonly known, can also claim to have played the best tournament ever. In 2014 in Saint Louis he started the “Sinquefield Cup” with seven wins in a row and played a performance around 3100, the best result ever achieved in elite tournaments.
In Chess960, he will be one of the most experienced in the elite field on the shores of the Ostsee. In the US chess capital Saint Louis, where the man with two passports (USA and Italy) now lives, he has been a regular participant in the 960 competitions organized by patron Rex Sinquefield. In 2022, he won by beating Alireza Firouzja, who was tied on points, in the tiebreak. At the WEISSENHAUS Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge, these two will once again test their strength.
FIDE title: Grandmaster
Achievements
World Championship runner-up: As the first American World Championship challenger since Bobby Fischer in 1972, Caruana remained undefeated in the 2018 match against defending champion Magnus Carlsen. After twelve drawn games, he lost in the tiebreak.
World Championship Candidate: Caruana has qualified for all Candidates Tournaments since 2016.
Rating Record: Caruana’s Elo rating of 2844 in October 2014 is the third highest since the introduction of the list in 1970.
Youngest Grandmaster: When Caruana was appointed Grandmaster in 2007 at the age of 14 years, 11 months and 20 days, he was the youngest GM in the history of the USA and Italy.
Record Tournament: Caruana’s victory at the Sinquefield Cup 2014 with 8.5 points out of 10 games is considered one of the best tournament performances ever. Caruana finished the tournament three points ahead of World Champion Magnus Carlsen.
National Champion: Caruana is a three-time US champion and four-time Italian champion.
