CHESS#1296

Fabiano Caruana is brave, well-prepared and dangerous opponent for Magnus Carlsen

Fabiano Caruana is the Challenger. The final placings in the Brelin candidates were Caruana (9/14), Sergey Karjakin and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (both 8), Ding Liren (7.5, and the only unbeaten player), Alexander Grischuk (6.5), Vladimir Kramnik (6.5), Wesley So (6) and Levon Aronian (4.5). 

The 25-year-old Italian American GM displayed strong character to log successive wins, after a crippling loss to Karjakin in Round 12. Caruana was unbeaten going into #12, with 7 points. He had a minimal half-point lead. The nearest contender was Mamedyarov (6.5), also unbeaten.  Karjakin suffered early losses against Mamedyarov and Aronian before he clawed his way back