Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So join USCF

[Norm Pollock]

Not computer related, but it is such a big story that it should be out there.

The US Chess Federation has gone on a major recruitment drive picking up the #3 (Caruana) and #7 (So) players in the world. This is sure to affect major International Team competitions like the Chess Olympiad, as well as the growth of chess if Caruana eventually becomes World Champion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/sport ... or-us.html

[reflectionofpower]

Not computer related, but it is such a big story that it should be out there.

The US Chess Federation has gone on a major recruitment drive picking up the #3 (Caruana) and #7 (So) players in the world. This is sure to affect major International Team competitions like the Chess Olympiad, as well as the growth of chess if Caruana eventually becomes World Champion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/sport ... or-us.html

Caruana is #5 on FIDE. He is even #5 in the live ratings. Nakamura is #4. Out of those top 5 he is the hungriest to get that wreath in my opinion.

[Norm Pollock]

As recently as June, Caruana was #2. #2-#5 separated by 8 pts. Here is the history of his monthly ratings:

https://ratings.fide.com/top_files.phtml?id=2020009

And here is the current top 10

Code: Select all

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
 1	 Carlsen, Magnus	 g	 NOR	 2853	 0	 1990
 2	 Anand, Viswanathan	 g	 IND	 2816	 0	 1969
 3	 Topalov, Veselin	 g	 BUL	 2816	 0	 1975
 4	 Nakamura, Hikaru	 g	 USA	 2814	 0	 1987
 5	 Caruana, Fabiano	 g	 USA	 2808	 7	 1992
 6	 Giri, Anish	 g	 NED	 2793	 7	 1994
 7	 So, Wesley	 g	 USA	 2779	 7	 1993
 8	 Kramnik, Vladimir	 g	 RUS	 2777	 7	 1975
 9	 Grischuk, Alexander	 g	 RUS	 2771	 0	 1983
 10	 Ding, Liren	 g	 CHN	 2770	 17	 1992

[reflectionofpower]

As recently as June, Caruana was #2. #2-#5 separated by 8 pts. Here is the history of his monthly ratings:

https://ratings.fide.com/top_files.phtml?id=2020009

And here is the current top 10

Code: Select all

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
 1	 Carlsen, Magnus	 g	 NOR	 2853	 0	 1990
 2	 Anand, Viswanathan	 g	 IND	 2816	 0	 1969
 3	 Topalov, Veselin	 g	 BUL	 2816	 0	 1975
 4	 Nakamura, Hikaru	 g	 USA	 2814	 0	 1987
 5	 Caruana, Fabiano	 g	 USA	 2808	 7	 1992
 6	 Giri, Anish	 g	 NED	 2793	 7	 1994
 7	 So, Wesley	 g	 USA	 2779	 7	 1993
 8	 Kramnik, Vladimir	 g	 RUS	 2777	 7	 1975
 9	 Grischuk, Alexander	 g	 RUS	 2771	 0	 1983
 10	 Ding, Liren	 g	 CHN	 2770	 17	 1992

I agree, He WAS #2. I am just being technical. I am not disagreeing with anyone as to his previous standings.

[Norm Pollock]

As recently as June, Caruana was #2. #2-#5 separated by 8 pts. Here is the history of his monthly ratings:

https://ratings.fide.com/top_files.phtml?id=2020009

And here is the current top 10

Code: Select all

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
 1	 Carlsen, Magnus	 g	 NOR	 2853	 0	 1990
 2	 Anand, Viswanathan	 g	 IND	 2816	 0	 1969
 3	 Topalov, Veselin	 g	 BUL	 2816	 0	 1975
 4	 Nakamura, Hikaru	 g	 USA	 2814	 0	 1987
 5	 Caruana, Fabiano	 g	 USA	 2808	 7	 1992
 6	 Giri, Anish	 g	 NED	 2793	 7	 1994
 7	 So, Wesley	 g	 USA	 2779	 7	 1993
 8	 Kramnik, Vladimir	 g	 RUS	 2777	 7	 1975
 9	 Grischuk, Alexander	 g	 RUS	 2771	 0	 1983
 10	 Ding, Liren	 g	 CHN	 2770	 17	 1992

I agree, He WAS #2. I am just being technical. I am not disagreeing with anyone as to his previous standings.

Understood. You were right in pointing out the discrepancy. The NY Times article was in May 2015 when he was #3 so that is where I got that number.

[Dirt]

The NY Times article was in May 2015 when he was #3 so that is where I got that number.

I wondered why you were posting such old news.

[Norm Pollock]

The NY Times article was in May 2015 when he was #3 so that is where I got that number.

I wondered why you were posting such old news.

I just came across it today and was totally shocked. Especially the part that he was born in Miami. Didn't know that. Being that he was US born, he cannot be criticized for the move. I suppose he will get better support, like hardware, software, contacts, etc in the US.

I do not recall it being posted here. It could have been and I could have missed it.

[yanquis1972]

had no idea caruana is USA now...thats awesome. will have to remember to root for him now

[reflectionofpower]

had no idea caruana is USA now...thats awesome. will have to remember to root for him now

I think it's a smart move on his part.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/caruana-sw ... k-to-u-s-a

[Dirt]

I do not recall it being posted here. It could have been and I could have missed it.

It belongs in CTF, where I see it has been moved to. I wasn't insisting on that, and I didn't report it. Still, this is old news.