Caruana obtains convincing victory at Champions Showdown

by André Schulz
3/7/2025 – Fabiano Caruana won the Champions Showdown 2025 in Saint Louis. On the last day of action, Caruana defended his lead in the three-game mini-match against Ray Robson with victories in blitz and the semi-classical game. Wesley So finished second, ahead of Levon Aronian. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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Entertaining for fans, profitable for players

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.

Champions Showdown 2025

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.

Hikaru Nakamura, Levon Aronian

Two long-time members of the elite | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Caruana 2 - 1 Robson

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Ray Robson, Fabiano Caruana

Ray Robson and Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Aronian 1½ - 1½ Nakamura

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Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura | Photo: Lennart Ootes

So 2 - 1 Dominguez

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Leinier Dominguez

Leinier Dominguez | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
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