Fabiano Caruana Shares His Predictions on the World Cup
In the latest episode of his YouTube podcast C-Squared, Fabiano Caruana discussed results from recent chess tournaments before turning his attention to the ongoing FIDE World Cup. Alongside co-host Cristian Chirila, he shared insights, analyses, and reflections on notable matches.
"The World Cup is my favourite tournament, both to watch and to play. There are an incredible number of games, exciting openings, close matches and lots of tiebreaks. But the first round is rarely interesting. Most matches are quite one-sided," said Caruana.
He acknowledged a remarkable exception in the first round: the 12-year-old prodigy Faustino Oro, who eliminated seasoned grandmaster Ante Brkic after a dramatic tiebreak finish.
"I can hardly remember such a young player competing in the World Cup, let alone surviving the first round. Brkic is, after all, a grandmaster who was around 2650 in his prime. It was a close match, but the boy showed what he can do," added Caruana.
Beyond the World Cup, Caruana also mentioned the Clutch Chess event in Saint Louis and the upcoming Total Chess World Championship in Norway. He appeared upbeat while speaking about the competitive spirit and evolving chess formats shaping the global chess scene.
Additional Features in His Discussion
- Analyses from prominent players such as Aravindh, Navara, and Wojtaszek.
- Opening videos presented by Blohberger, Engel, and Sokolov.
- Training columns covering topics like “The Fortress,” “Opening Traps,” and “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge.”
Author’s Summary
Fabiano Caruana enthusiastically analyzed the FIDE World Cup, praising young talent and offering a thoughtful perspective on chess’s most dynamic events.