The ratings of players who are scared to play in open tournaments are not credible.

The chance to play against a super-GM like Caruana is a major draw for many chess enthusiasts, especially the younger ones. And while the overall level of opposition might be weaker compared to an invitational, Caruana still had to work and play chess to earn his points.  

Hou could have gotten a decisive advantage with 34.Rg3, but that move is hard to find in time trouble.

It's very hard to win tournaments like these, even if you're 2767. If it's so easy to gain 5 rating points like this, then why doesn't Naka play more often in such tournaments? He's just envious, too bad.

Rating points are incidental to chess.  Let us focus more on the intrinsic beauty of the game called chess and the ability of the game to stir our minds and keep our intellectual health at a peak than on rating points.

Is Naka suggesting that Caruana should not have been allowed to participate in such a "weak tournament" (because he is in effect getting "free rating points")?

...if that is his case, by his reasoning... then Anand should not be allowed to play Gelfand for the WCC?

He mentioned that ratings should be weighted? Is it not already? Caruana is in fact risking his rating by playing such "weaker players".

Would Hikaru make the rating system worse just to protect his rank? That is bad for chess.

@ Prooz - thanks for spotting that. I must have taken the standings before they had been completely updated after the final round. Now corrected!

How can Naka dream of being a world champ with that attitude? Just because someone else earned 5 rating points he is unhappy? I dont think he likes his chess career. Maybe someone here has a position for him in an apartment store?

It seems something is wrong with the results table. Erwin L'Ami from the Netherlands was also on 6.5/9 according to the official site: http://chess-results.com/tnr54645.aspx?art=1&rd=9&lan=1&flag=30

It was hard to get Elo points in Reykjavick.

Well-done Caruana.

amazing

I watched the Hou vs Caruana game, and at one point Houdini evaluated her postion as +2.39, late in the first time control. After they made the time control, Yifan went to the bathroom, came back, and thought for a third of her second time control on the first move. She then lost about 1.5 evaluation points on the knight exchange. She appeared to have a good chance of beating her first top ten player and winning this tournament! 

Congratulations to Fabiano! It was really an exciting game!

@ metalface - I thought that at first, but when Susan Polgar responded on Twitter saying "But tennis ranking has its own problem. Caroline Wozniacki was ranked #1 without winning a single Grand Slam." he replied with "Perhaps, but there is no way that playing against a weak field in Iceland should be the same as playing in Wijk aan Zee..."

good game Fabiano

In this tournament Caruana gained 5 net points so it'not like he built his rating on it. Maybe Naka is obsessed with ratings. Actually for higher rated players i think this kind of tournaments are risky because they HAVE to win to just maintain their ratings. For example if Caruana draws against Cheparinov he doesnt gain ELO points in the event.

These are open tournaments, where anyone can join. That Caruana takes part as a professional making a living from playing, and breaking no rules...I don't get the criticism from Naka...why not play as well?

I do agree that the Italian is one that the top four should by now be seeing in their rear-view mirror...and be concerned about.

This winner is trouble...I have notice his continued climb to the top...players better be aware of this "chess" player now and not later!

Yeah :) He's a really good-player as well should stop it..