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PLAYER OF THE DAY | FABIANO CARUANA | FIDE CANDIDATES 2026

Player of the Day – Round 1

Commentators’ pick: 🇺🇸 Fabiano Caruana

♟️ World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana defeated World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura after playing the longest game of the round!

📷 Yoav Nis / FIDE

 #FIDECandidates #Chess #FIDE #Cyprus

- FIDE International 

ABSOLUTE CHAOS IN THE FINAL BETWEEN MAGNUS CARLSEN AND FABIANO CARUANA | FIDE WORLD FREESTYLE CHESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SPEED CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP: CARLSEN, NAKA, FIROUZJA AND LAZAVIK IN SEMIS

The quarterfinals of the 2025 Speed Chess Championship have concluded, producing two compelling semifinal pairings for the live stage in London this February. Magnus Carlsen will face Denis Lazavik, while Hikaru Nakamura is set to meet Alireza Firouzja in a clash of leading speed-play specialists. The event, organised by chess.com, continues to combine online matchplay with an on-site finale, bringing rapid-fire chess to a live audience on 7–8 February 2026.

All set for the London finals in February

The 2025 Speed Chess Championship reached its decisive stage as the quarterfinals concluded, setting up two high-profile semifinal encounters: Magnus Carlsen will meet Denis Lazavik, while Hikaru Nakamura is set to face Alireza Firouzja. These four players will participate in the live finals in London, scheduled for 7–8 February 2026, when the semifinals, consolation match and final will be played before an on-site audience.

The event follows its established format: following a series of qualifying events, a 16-player single-elimination bracket is organised by , with each match divided into three timed phases - 5+1, 3+1 and 1+1 - played consecutively. Should any match finish level, a series of extra 1+1 games is held, followed, if necessary, by a bidding Armageddon decider.

Carlsen defeats Caruana

Magnus Carlsen advanced after registering a 14½–7½ victory over Fabiano Caruana. Although the Norwegian began as the clear favourite, the match remained competitive well into the 3+1 portion. Amid the second section, Caruana trailed by only a single point at 6½–5½, taking advantage of an uncharacteristically uneven spell from Carlsen.

The balance shifted abruptly thereafter. Carlsen produced a sustained run of eight consecutive wins, effectively removing any doubt regarding the final outcome. His set scores reflected this late surge:

5+1: Carlsen 4½–2½ Caruana

3+1: Carlsen 4–3 Caruana

1+1: Carlsen 6–2 Caruana

Nakamura edges So

Hikaru Nakamura secured his place in London following a narrow win against Wesley So by an 11-10 score. The match was notable for its momentum swings: Nakamura twice built substantial leads, only for So to reply each time with three-game streaks. Rarely does Nakamura lose a bullet segment, but So managed exactly that, winning the 1+1 phase 4–3.

The American top seed nonetheless prevailed by taking a crucial penultimate game and defending a difficult position in the final encounter. The segment results were:

5+1: Nakamura 4½–2½ So

3+1: Nakamura 3½–3½ So

1+1: Nakamura 3–4 So

Firouzja overpowers Nepomniachtchi

Alireza Firouzja delivered one of the most one-sided results of the round, defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi 19–9. Firouzja's consistency across all three segments left his opponent with few opportunities to narrow the gap. He maintained a clear initiative throughout, winning each phase by a wide margin:

5+1: Firouzja 5½–3½ Nepomniachtchi

3+1: Firouzja 6½–3½ Nepomniachtchi

1+1: Firouzja 7–2 Nepomniachtchi

The result gives Firouzja a strong platform heading into his meeting with Nakamura.

Lazavik stops Niemann

Denis Lazavik completed the semifinal lineup with a 15½–9½ win over Hans Niemann. The Belarusian grandmaster maintained control for most of the match, ultimately scoring eleven wins to Niemann's five. His performance across the three phases was steady and convincing, and he now progresses to face Carlsen in London:

5+1: Niemann 2½–5½ Lazavik

3+1: Niemann 3½–4½ Lazavik

1+1: Niemann 3½–5½ Lazavik

- Carlos Alberto Colodro

FABIANO CARUANA WINS THE U.S.

Fabiano Caruana wins the U.S. Championship and ties Bobby Fischer’s record 🔥

Fabiano made history yesterday as he won the U.S. Championship for the 4th consecutive time, tying Bobby Fischer’s record while clinching his 5th title overall.

With an unbeaten run in 11 games, he scored 8 points (5 wins, 6 draws), gained 8.3 rating points, and achieved a performance rating of 2850. Congratulations Fabiano 👏

📷 Norway Chess / Michal Walusza

FABIANO CARUANA VS. FIROUZJA | FIDE | CHESS.COM

A SILENT CONFESSION | MAGNUS CARLSEN VS. FABIANO CARUANA | 2018 SINQUEFIELD CUP