Caruana Clinches GCT, Crosses 2800, Leads Sinquefield Cup With Dominguez, So

After beginning the last leg with a massive lead in tour points, GM Fabiano Caruana has clinched the 2023 Grand Chess Tour with two rounds to spare at the 2023 Sinquefield Cup.

He and GM Leinier Dominguez scored their second wins in a row on Tuesday. Caruana defeated GM Wesley So in a scintillating miniature that's our Game of the Day. Dominguez repelled GM Richard Rapport's ambitious play. 

Both Caruana and Dominguez are now tied for the lead with So with chances to surpass him in the last two rounds. They will play both rounds while So only has only one game remaining. 

The Sinquefield Cup continues with round eight on Wednesday, November 29, at 2:30 p.m. ET/20:30 CET/01:00 a.m. IST.

Standings After Round 7

An inside peak into the playing hall shows a snack and rest area where the players can step away from the pressure of their boards, yet still consider their current game positions on screen. 

After the slew of victories the day before, round seven was a critical one with the tournament leader, So, facing one of his closest rivals, Caruana. 

Caruana vs. So

So surprised Caruana with an unexpected variation in the Nimzo-Indian Defense. Yet, when So played one of the opening's ideas at the wrong moment, Caruana was ready to pounce, grabbing the initiative: "He mixed up lines. I was a bit surprised he went for this line, but I knew some details about it." With one dynamic move after another, he didn't let his opponent back into the game. 

Caruana's pivotal miniature is our Game of the Day, with analysis by GM Rafael Leitao.

18.Bxf7! And it looks hopeless for GM Wesley So…#SinquefieldCup #grandchesstour pic.twitter.com/EBDqLmxJ9y

— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) November 28, 2023

By defeating So, Caruana has leapt into a tie for first. He reflected on his recent victories:

I have to say I got some good fortune in the last two games. You know, Wesley almost never has games like this. Probably he was a bit nervous because of the tournament situation. It was his last tough game. It was his last game with the black pieces, and if he draws this game, then he's probably going to share first.

I have to say I got some good fortune in the last two games. You know, Wesley almost never has games like this. 

—Fabiano Caruana

Commentator GM Peter Svidler shared his perspective on Caruana's performance:

For Fabi, it's just a fantastic year, maybe one of the best of his career. I think this is part of the reason why he's playing so well: He doesn't actually need it anymore. He is more or less assured of winning the Grand Chess Tour. He needed to play OK. He didn't really need to win the tournament. He needed to play fine. And he already has qualified for the Candidates. So, he's pretty much free to roam here, free to express himself. 

Whereas half of the field are still scrambling for the Candidates. For them, it's a lot more important. There's more pressure on them, specifically on Wesley and Anish.

Congratulations to Fabiano Caruana for winning the 2023 Grand Chess Tour with two rounds to spare!🎉#GrandChessTour #SinquefieldCup
Photo by Lennart Ootes for GCT pic.twitter.com/uF2GW4X8AO

— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) November 28, 2023

In addition, Caruana crossed 2800 FIDE in live ratings once again. 

Dominguez vs. Rapport 

After equalizing comfortably with Black, Rapport became ambitious for more, declining his opponent's repetition offer on move 19. Yet, his aggressive intentions backfired when he sought to complicate the game by opening up the kingside. With an insightful knight maneuver, Dominguez gained an overwhelming advantage.

This victory was significant in the Candidates rating race. Dominguez is now less than one rating point away from the leader, So.

"It was quite unexpected, I must say. I wasn't thinking too much about this," says Dominguez about suddenly being in the running for the Candidates Tournament!#SinquefieldCup pic.twitter.com/zQVyyzW8EG

— chess24.com (@chess24com) November 28, 2023

Nepomniachtchi vs. Firouzja

GM Ian Nepomniachtchi led GM Alireza Firouzja into an endgame where he's done extensive homework. Though objectively equal, Nepomniachtchi believed: “If you see this position for the first time, you can easily make some inaccuracies… I think what he did is imprecise… but by miracle, maybe it’s still not lost.”

Nepo looks devastated after his game against Firouzja ends in a draw. As a consolation, however, the computer confirms he never missed a win!#SinquefieldCup pic.twitter.com/q9UY9GMqc3

— chess24.com (@chess24com) November 28, 2023

Aronian vs. Giri

GM Anish Giri reached a favored setup in the Petroff Defense vs. GM Levon Aronian. Referring to the position on move 15, Giri shared: "I like these positions. I've beaten Fabiano here with White. It's my favorite position actually, with both sides I'm happy... It's just amazing with opposite-color bishops, a lot is happening." 

I've beaten Fabiano here with White. It's my favorite position actually, with both sides I'm happy.

—Anish Giri

He shared his insights into this middlegame, zeroing in on move 22:

Here, it feels like I'm under some pressure because it's hard for me to solve the tension in the center... All these central aggressions are not good, but instead this plan of ...g6 followed by ...Kg7 and then ....h5. Usually in positions like this you have to make one active more, and the opponent is already terrified. Because White is so risk-free, but the moment you go h5, White is like: it's getting too risky.

Results - Round 7

Pairings - Round 8

How to watch the 2023 Sinquefield Cup

You can keep up with all the games and results of the tournament on our live events platform by following this link.

All Games

The 2023 Sinquefield Cup is the strongest international classical OTB tournament in the U.S. and the final leg of the 2023 Grand Chess Tour. Starting November 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET/20:30 CET/01:00 (+1) IST, 10 elite grandmasters will compete for their share of the $350,000 prize fund.

Previous Coverage

• • Victories Aplenty: So Leads; Caruana, Dominguez Score 1st Wins
  • Aronian Defeats Firouzja After Near-Catastrophe At Time Control
  • So Breaks Draw Streak At 2023 Sinquefield Cup
  • Duda Withdraws With Health Issue, No Decisive Results In St. Louis
  • Missed Wins For Nepomniachtchi, Caruana
  • Dominguez Presses vs. Caruana In Accurate Opening Round