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
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

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

Loading...
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.

Select an entry from the list to switch between games

Ray Robson, Fabiano Caruana

Ray Robson and Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Aronian 1½ - 1½ Nakamura

Loading...
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.

Select an entry from the list to switch between games

Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura | Photo: Lennart Ootes

So 2 - 1 Dominguez

Loading...
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.

Select an entry from the list to switch between games

Leinier Dominguez

Leinier Dominguez | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Links

<< Ramesh and Marin new national coaches in Italy
Impressive Aravindh wins Prague Masters with 2830 TPR >>
Topics: Champions Showdown 2025, Fabiano Caruana
André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Champions Showdown: Caruana leapfrogs So in the leaderboard

3/6/2025 – The second day of play at the Champions Showdown in Saint Louis saw Fabiano Caruana overtaking Wesley So in the standings after winning their rapid game, with the blitz and semi-classical encounters ending in draws. Hikaru Nakamura and Levon Aronian also secured mini-match victories, with Nakamura defeating Ray Robson in their rapid game and Aronian beating Leinier Dominguez in the semi-classical format. Despite his loss to Nakamura, Robson remains in third place and is set to face leader Caruana on the final day. | Photo: Crystal Fuller
More...
 5

See also

Champions Showdown: So beats Aronian twice on opening day

3/5/2025 – The Champions Showdown began on Tuesday at the Saint Louis Chess Club, featuring six of the top players from the United States competing in blitz, rapid, and semi-classical games. Instead of a points-based system, standings are determined by prize money earned. The first day saw Fabiano Caruana defeating Hikaru Nakamura in the semi-classical game, while Wesley So secured two victories against Levon Aronian. Meanwhile, Leinier Dominguez and Ray Robson won one game each in their head-to-head encounter. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
More...
 5

Video

60m English New ideas in the Najdorf_E

‘New ideas in the Najdorf – a Power Play 18 Update’ aims to complement Daniel King’s popular DVD from last year ‘The Sicilian Najdorf - a repertoire for Black’. Such a dynamic and popular opening as the Najdorf is developing the whole time. On this download, Daniel King updates lines that were included on his DVD but also responds to viewers’ requests, considering lines that he omitted from his original repertoire. The lines examined on this update are: • 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 h3 e5 7 Nde2 • 5….a6 6 Bc4 in combination with the English Attack (Be3, f3 etc) • 5…a6 6 Be3 and the …a5 variation • 5…a6 6 Be2 and 9 Re1 • 5 f3 (instead of 5 Nc3) It isn’t necessary to have seen the original Najdorf DVD to understand the lines examined here – but it would help as they form part of a complete repertoire.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.