Congratulations Shankland, but a question... - Chess Forums

USArmyParatrooper

Jun 15, 2018

0

#1

I’m not much of a chess guru, so I’m hoping some of you who follow tournament chess more can tell me if I’m overthinking this.

First, congratulations Sam Shankland for winning the US chess championship. My question is does that bode badly for Caruana’s chances when he faces Magnus Carlsen for the world title?

Obviously one has nothing to do with the other, but here is my thinking. Magnus is practically in a league of his own, and either way he is clearly a favorite. No doubt Caruana is overall the best US player right now, but (in that particular tournament) he wasn’t even the best in the country.

On the plus side he placed a very close 2nd, finishing only 1/2 point behind Shankland. I don’t want to marginalize that accomplishment, because that in and of itself is a major accomplishment, and I’m a big fan of his. I just think the one who brings down Magnus Carlsen needs to be someone who really separates himself from the rest of the potential contenders.

Thoughts?

llama

Jun 15, 2018

0

#2

Carlsen finished behind Caruana in Norway.

Caruana finished behind Shankland in the US Championship.

Therefore Shankland > Carlsen?

Lets be serious :

Shankland's best day is barely better than Caruana's bad day. Makes sense, their ratings aren't that far apart. You say Caruana isn't even the best player in his country? Well come on, with Naka and So the USA may objectively be the toughest country to be top chess player in.

As for Carlsen being in a league of his own, maybe that was true 4 or 5 years ago, but today he's only 19 points ahead of Caruana on the live rating list. Would I bet on Carlsen? Sure. Not only is he better he has more championship experience and maybe some intangibles too, but it should be a close match.

llama

Jun 15, 2018

0

#3

And really, which is more impressive, winning the USA Championships or the Candiadates?

Candidates is #1 toughest tournament.

Then Caruana wins Norway ahead of lots of elite players.

Caruana has definitely been setting himself apart... it's just he's not winning absolutely everything

USArmyParatrooper

Jun 15, 2018

0

#4

Thanks for the insight everyone 👍

Telestu, I did acknowledge Caruana is overall the best in the country. I just said he wasn’t THE best in that specific tournament. I’m glad to see he’s still winning in the stronger tournaments.

I’m really rooting for him to become the new champion.

IMKeto

Jun 15, 2018

0

#5

Shankland was on Carlsen's team in his match against Karjakian, so maybe Caruana can get Sam to work for him this time?

IMKeto

Jun 16, 2018

0

#6

BobbyTalparov wrote:

IMBacon wrote:

Shankland was on Carlsen's team in his match against Karjakian, so maybe Caruana can get Sam to work for him this time?

I'm sure Carlsen had him sign an NDA and NCA, so it may not be all that useful for Caruana to do that.

Im sure...but ya never know. Us humans are known to make mistakes :-)

macer75

Jun 24, 2018

0

#7

BobbyTalparov wrote:

If Caruana hadn't blown the game against Izoria, he finishes at +7 and people start talking about how it was the best performance since Fischer's +11.

There is a big difference between match play and tournament play (in terms of strategy).

Take the 2016 match, for example. Karjakin's strategy was to draw every game and go into a rapid playoff where he felt he had better chances (as he was the reigning world rapid champion). When he got up a game, his strategy was still to draw every game and finish a point ahead.

In tournaments, stronger players must score wins against the weaker ones (regardless of color) and (usually) aim for draws with black and wins with white against their peers.

Well... you can say that about a lot of second-place finishers in tournaments. If he had won a game that in reality he lost, he would have had an additional +2 to his actual score, which was already good enough to put him in second place. So yeah, his hypothetical performance could easily be one for the ages.

JayeshSinhaChess

Jun 24, 2018

0

#8

Fabiano has been in great form in classical chess, even if he didn't win the US Championship, he won the Norway one, which had a far stronger field than the US Championship.

I do feel that Fabiano is by far the toughest challenger to Carlsen (Vishy was way past his best and Karjakin, though he really pushed Carlsen, never really has arrived). Fabiano has excellent opportunity to become world champion.