Fabiano Caruana emerged victorious at the Champions Showdown 2025 played from Tuesday to Thursday at the Saint Louis Chess Club. On the third and final day of the exhibition event, in which six of the eight best players in the United Stated played for prize money rather than points in a three-way battle in blitz, rapid and semi-classical (60 minutes plus 30 seconds) time controls. The challenger of the 2018 match for the World Championship, Fabiano Caruana, successfully defended his lead in his encounter against Ray Robson.
Caruana won the blitz game and the semi-classical encounter - the rapid game ended in a draw - and finished the tournament with a balance of 51,625 US dollars. Not a bad reward for three half days of work!
Wesley So 'only' earned 45,875 US dollars after winning the blitz game against Leinier Dominguez and drawing in the other two events.
Levon Aronian lost the blitz game against Hikaru Nakamura, but was able to improve to third place in the prize money table with a win in the semi-classical game. In a Giouco Piano, Nakamura got a more active position out of the opening phase, but then misjudged the situation or miscalculated and came under decisive pressure on the kingside.
Two long-time members of the elite | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Select an entry from the list to switch between games
Ray Robson and Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Select an entry from the list to switch between games
Hikaru Nakamura | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Select an entry from the list to switch between games
Leinier Dominguez | Photo: Lennart Ootes
