The Grenke Chess Classic, played in Karlsruhe and Baden Baden, has been won by Fabiano Caruana, who also won the World Championship Candidates tournament in Berlin (see Chess, 21 April). In his most recent success Caruana finished ahead of the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, by a clear point. Although Carlsen must remain the favourite for the forthcoming World Championship match between the two in London in November, the fact that Caruana can dominate a powerful field in this way and leave the world champion in his wake adds weight to the idea that he may be able to triumph then.
This week, some important milestones from Caruana’s latest laurels in Germany.
Meier–Caruana: Grenke Chess Classic, Karlsruhe/Baden Baden 2018 (see diagram 1)
Here Caruana could bring his kingside attack to a swift conclusion with 24 … Nh2. This is based on the brilliant point 25 Nd4 Nf1!!, winning after 26 Kxf1 Bc4+ 27 Ke1 Qh1+! mating.
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