Search
Saint Louis Blitz 2019 · Saint Louis USA · 14 August 2019

Caruana, F. vs Carlsen, M., Saint Louis Blitz 2019

Caruana, F. 1–0 Carlsen, M.
Caruana, F. vs Carlsen, M.
87654321
abcdefgh
Black pawn
White rook
Black rook
Black queen
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black king
White queen
White bishop
White pawn
White pawn
White king
123/123
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
  13. 7.
  15. 8.
  17. 9.
  19. 10.
  21. 11.
  23. 12.
  25. 13.
  27. 14.
  29. 15.
  31. 16.
  33. 17.
  35. 18.
  37. 19.
  39. 20.
  41. 21.
  43. 22.
  45. 23.
  47. 24.
  49. 25.
  51. 26.
  53. 27.
  55. 28.
  57. 29.
  59. 30.
  61. 31.
  63. 32.
  65. 33.
  67. 34.
  69. 35.
  71. 36.
  73. 37.
  75. 38.
  77. 39.
  79. 40.
  81. 41.
  83. 42.
  85. 43.
  87. 44.
  89. 45.
  91. 46.
  93. 47.
  95. 48.
  97. 49.
  99. 50.
  101. 51.
  103. 52.
  105. 53.
  107. 54.
  109. 55.
  111. 56.
  113. 57.
  115. 58.
  117. 59.
  119. 60.
  121. 61.
  123. 62.
Saint Louis Blitz 2019, 14 August 2019

Caruana-Carlsen at the 2019 Saint Louis Blitz (Round 14.5) was won by Caruana as White. The 2019 Saint Louis Blitz was the third section of the Saint Louis GCT stop, played at 3+2 time control over 18 rounds. Carlsen won the overall tournament; this individual game was one of his rare blitz losses to Caruana that year.

Caruana’s win was a sharp Sicilian. The middlegame featured a pawn sacrifice for piece activity — a typical Caruana-as-White attacking pattern. Carlsen’s defensive technique, usually exceptional at all time controls, broke at one critical move in time pressure. Caruana converted in roughly 35 moves.

Caruana’s blitz record against Carlsen during 2019 was unusual in that he managed several wins. Their head-to-head blitz record across years favoured Carlsen substantially, but the 2019 Saint Louis Blitz was an exception. Caruana’s preparation depth could occasionally overcome Carlsen’s intuitive blitz advantage when the specific opening produced concrete tactical sequences.

The 2019 Grand Chess Tour was won by Carlsen across the calendar year. Caruana finished second overall, with several individual event wins. Their direct rivalry remained the most-watched in elite chess through 2019-2020, continuing the storyline from their 2018 World Championship match.