World Championship Challenger Meets Rising Star: Caruana vs Xiong at the 2019 US Chess Championship
A Battle of Generations in Saint Louis
The Setting
The 2019 US Chess Championship brought together twelve of America’s finest players at the prestigious Saint Louis Chess Club from March 20 to April 2, 2019. With $194,000 in prize money and a spot in the World Championship cycle at stake, tensions ran high throughout the elite round-robin event.
The time control was classical: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. This gave players ample time to calculate deeply—though as we’ll see, even world-class grandmasters can falter under pressure.
The Field
The 2019 edition featured a remarkable concentration of talent. Besides our two protagonists, the tournament included:
- Hikaru Nakamura – Four-time US Champion seeking his fifth title
- Wesley So – Former US Champion and perennial contender
- Leinier Dominguez Perez – Cuban-born super-GM making his US Championship debut after becoming a US citizen
- Sam Shankland – The defending 2018 champion
- Ray Robson – Consistent top-tier American GM
- Sam Sevian – One of America’s youngest GMs
- Var Akobian – Experienced tournament veteran
- Alex Lenderman – Solid positional player
- Awonder Liang – Teenage prodigy
- Timur Gareyev – The eccentric blindfold chess world record holder (who famously played in another tournament during the championship!)
Nakamura would ultimately claim his fifth title with 8/11, edging out Dominguez and Caruana by half a point.
The Players
White: Fabiano Caruana (FIDE 2828)
Just four months before this game, Fabiano Caruana had been on the biggest stage in chess—challenging Magnus Carlsen for the World Championship in London. The match ended in twelve straight draws before Carlsen won the rapid tiebreaks, but Caruana had proven himself as the first American challenger since Bobby Fischer in 1972.
Born in Miami in 1992 to Italian parents, Caruana grew up in Brooklyn and became a chess prodigy under the tutelage of Bruce Pandolfini (yes, that Pandolfini from “Searching for Bobby Fischer”). He earned his GM title at 14, won the 2016 US Championship, and holds the third-highest FIDE rating ever achieved (2844). His legendary performance at the 2014 Sinquefield Cup—7/7 against a field averaging 2802—remains one of chess history’s greatest tournament results.
Black: Jeffery Xiong (FIDE 2663)
At just 18 years old, Jeffery Xiong represented the new generation of American chess talent. Born in Plano, Texas in 2000, Xiong became a GM at 14 (the fourth-youngest American ever) and won the 2016 World Junior Championship—becoming the youngest winner in 28 years and the first American to claim the title in nearly two decades.
Xiong had started the tournament brilliantly, defeating defending champion Shankland in Round 3 and sharing the lead with 2.5/3. A Round 4 loss to Robson dropped him back to the pack, and heading into this Round 6 clash, he faced the daunting task of playing Black against the world’s second-ranked player.
The Game
Event: 2019 US Chess Championship
Site: Saint Louis Chess Club, Missouri
Date: March 25, 2019
Round: 6
White: Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Black: Xiong, Jeffery (2663)
Result: 1-0
ECO: C65 – Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
Complete PGN
[Event "US Chess Championship 2019"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2019.03.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2828"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Qe7 7. Nbd2 Bg4
8. h3 Bh5 9. a3 a5 10. Nc4 Nd7 11. g4 Bg6 12. b4 Bb6 13. bxa5 Bxa5 14. Bb2 f6
15. Nxa5 Rxa5 16. Nh4 O-O 17. Nf5 Qe6 18. Kh2 c5 19. h4 c4 20. h5 Bf7 21. Rg1
cxd3 22. cxd3 Rb5 23. Bc1 Kh8 24. Be3 Rb3 25. Rg3 c5 26. Qe2 g5 27. hxg6 Bxg6
28. a4 Qa6 29. Bh6 Rg8 30. Rag1 Qxa4 31. Ne7 Qd4 32. Qd1 c4 33. Nxg8 Kxg8
34. dxc4 Rxg3 35. Qxd4 exd4 36. Kxg3 Bxe4 37. Rd1 d3 38. f3 Bg6 39. Ra1 Kf7
40. Ra7 Nc5 41. Be3 Ke8 42. Bxc5 d2 43. Ra8+ Kd7 44. Bb6 Kc6 45. Ba5 1-0Detailed Analysis
The Opening: Anti-Berlin Strategy
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Xiong chooses the Berlin Defense—the rock-solid system that Vladimir Kramnik used to dethrone Kasparov in 2000. Its reputation as “the Berlin Wall” stems from the notorious endgame arising after 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8, where Black trades early queens for an ugly-but-defensible structure.
4.d3
Caruana sidesteps the Berlin endgame entirely with the “Anti-Berlin”—a system championed by the first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz. By supporting e4 with d3 instead of castling, White maintains more pieces and middlegame complexity.
4…Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.O-O Qe7 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5
Both sides develop logically. Black’s bishop sortie to g4 pressures the f3-knight and prepares the retreat to g6 where it will eye White’s kingside.
Position after 8...Bh5:
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | r | | | | k | | | r |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | p | p | p | | q | p | p | p |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | p | | | n | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | | | b | | p | | | b |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | | | | P | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | | | | P | | N | | P |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | P | P | P | N | | P | P | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
1 | R | | B | Q | | R | K | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
a b c d e f g h9.a3 a5?!
Stockfish notes this as a slight inaccuracy. Black prevents b4 but weakens the b5-square. The engine preferred 9…Nd7 immediately, preparing to recapture on c5 with the knight if White plays b4.
10.Nc4 Nd7 11.g4 Bg6 12.b4
Caruana demonstrates excellent understanding of this structure. The g4-h4-h5 pawn storm is White’s primary kingside plan, while b4 challenges Black’s bishop and aims to open lines on the queenside.
Position after 12.b4:
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | r | | | | k | | | r |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | | p | p | n | q | p | p | p |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | p | | | | b | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | p | | b | | p | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | P | N | | P | | P | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | P | | | P | | N | | P |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | | | P | | | P | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
1 | R | | B | Q | | R | K | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
a b c d e f g h12…Bb6 13.bxa5 Bxa5 14.Bb2 f6
Stockfish slightly preferred 12 ... axb4 13 Bg5 f6 14 axb4. In the game, Black solidifies the e5-pawn but weakens the e6-square—a critical concession that allows White’s knight to land on f5 with tremendous effect.
The Critical Middlegame
15.Nxa5?!
Stockfish slightly prefers keeping the knight on c4, but this capture is perfectly playable.
15…Rxa5 16.Nh4?!
An aggressive but imprecise move. Caruana wants his knight on f5 immediately, but Stockfish suggests the more patient 16.Qe2 or 16.Qe1 first.
16…O-O?!
Black misses 16…O-O-O!, which would have given better counterplay against White’s exposed kingside.
17.Nf5 Qe6 18.Kh2 c5 19.h4 c4 20.h5
Position after 20.h5:
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | | | | | | r | k | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | | p | p | n | | | p | p |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | | | q | p | b | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | r | | | | p | N | | P |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | | p | | P | | P | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | P | | | P | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | | B | P | | | P | | K |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
1 | R | | | Q | | R | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
a b c d e f g hCaruana’s pawn storm is in full swing. The knight on f5 dominates the position, and Black’s bishop on g6 is running out of squares.
20…Bf7?
A significant mistake that hands White a clear advantage. Black should have eliminated the monster knight with 20…Bxf5! 21.gxf5 Qf7 when the position remains complex but defensible. Now White’s attack gains momentum.
21.Rg1?
Caruana returns the favor! Stockfish wanted 21.Bc3!, attacking the rook and preparing to double on the g-file more effectively. Both world-class players are human after all.
21…cxd3 22.cxd3 Rb5?
Another slip. Xiong should have played 22…Qb6!, keeping more active piece placement. The rook on b5 looks aggressive but accomplishes little.
The Tactical Climax
23.Bc1 Kh8?! 24.Be3 Rb3 25.Rg3 c5?!
Black’s pieces are awkwardly placed. The rook on b3 is out of play, and the knight on d7 has no good squares.
26.Qe2 g5??
Position after 26...g5:
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | | | | | | r | | k |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | | p | | n | | b | | p |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | | | q | p | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | | | p | | p | N | p | P |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | | | | P | | P | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | P | r | | P | B | | R | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | | | | | Q | P | | K |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
1 | R | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
a b c d e f g hA serious mistake born of desperation. Xiong tries to break the bind, but this weakens his king fatally. The engine strongly preferred 26…Rg8, maintaining defensive chances.
27.hxg6 Bxg6 28.a4 Qa6 29.Bh6 Rg8 30.Rag1
Caruana’s pieces swarm the kingside. The bishop on h6 is devastating, preventing Black’s king from escaping via g7.
30…Qxa4 31.Ne7?
Even Caruana stumbles in the complications! The spectacular 31.g5! was crushing, ripping open lines toward the black king. After 31…fxg5 32.Rxg5 White’s attack is overwhelming.
31…Qd4 32.Qd1 c4??
The decisive blunder. Under pressure, Xiong cracks. The calm 32…Ra3 would have kept Black in the game, though White retains an edge.
33.Nxg8 Kxg8 34.dxc4 Rxg3 35.Qxd4 exd4 36.Kxg3
The smoke clears to reveal a technically winning endgame for White. Black has a bishop and passed d-pawn for the exchange, but White’s material advantage and better-coordinated pieces prove decisive.
The Technical Phase
36…Bxe4 37.Rd1 d3 38.f3 Bg6
Position after 38...Bg6:
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | | | | | | | k | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | | p | | n | | | | p |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | | | | p | b | B |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | | P | | | | P | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | | | | p | | P | K | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
1 | | | | R | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
a b c d e f g h
White: Kg3, Rd1, Bh6, pawns c4, f3, g4
Black: Kg8, Nd7, Bg6, pawns b7, d3, f6, h7(Note: White bishop on h6 was exchanged earlier; position shows the endgame structure)
39.Ra1 Kf7 40.Ra7 Nc5 41.Be3 Ke8?
Another mistake in a difficult position. Xiong needed 41...Nd7 to keep his knight active and protect the b7-pawn.42.Bxc5 d2?
Desperation. The passed pawn looks dangerous but White easily handles it.43.Ra8+ Kd7 44.Bb6! Kc6 45.Ba5!
Final Position
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
8 | R | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
7 | | p | | | | | | p |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
6 | | | k | | | p | b | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 | B | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
4 | | | P | | | | P | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
3 | | | | | | P | K | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
2 | | | | p | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
a b c d e f g h
White: Ka3, Ra8, Ba5, pawns c4, f3, g4 Black: Kc6, Bg6, pawns b7, d2, f6, h7
Black resigned (1-0)
Black’s position is hopeless. The d2-pawn will fall after Rd8, and White’s rook will invade decisively. The bishop on a5 controls the critical d8-square and prevents any counterplay.
Lessons for Club Players
1. The Power of the Knight on f5
Throughout this game, Caruana’s knight on f5 was a dominant piece. Planted on this outpost—supported by pawns on e4 and g4—it controlled key squares (e7, g7, h6, d6, e3) and restricted Black’s pieces severely. When your opponent allows a knight to reach f5 (or f4 for Black), consider whether you should immediately trade it off or suffer its presence.
Takeaway: If you can establish a knight on f5 in a Spanish-type position, prioritize supporting it. If your opponent has such a knight, exchange it if possible, especially before castling kingside.
2. Pawn Storms Require Piece Coordination
Caruana’s g4-h4-h5 advance wasn’t just random aggression — it was coordinated with:
- Knight landing on f5
- Bishop ready to deploy to c1-h6 diagonal
- Rooks prepared to use the g-file
The lesson: advancing pawns in front of your king requires that your pieces support the attack. Xiong’s pieces, by contrast, were uncoordinated (rook on b3, knight on d7, queen shuffling), which allowed Caruana’s attack to succeed.
3. Trading Bad Pieces
Black’s light-squared bishop spent the game being pushed around by White’s pawns. On move 20, Black had the opportunity to exchange it for the dominant knight with 20…Bxf5!, but declined. This would have:
- Eliminated White’s best piece
- Given Black’s remaining pieces more breathing room
- Opened the g-file for potential counterplay
Takeaway: Don’t be sentimental about the bishop pair. If one of your bishops is bad and your opponent has a monster knight, trade it!
4. Pressure Causes Mistakes
Xiong is a world-class player who has beaten super-GMs. Yet under Caruana’s sustained pressure, he committed multiple inaccuracies (20…Bf7?, 22…Rb5?, 26…g5?, 32…c4??). Club players often think professionals don’t blunder, but even elite GMs crack when:
- Under constant pressure
- In time trouble
- Facing difficult defensive tasks
Takeaway: Even if your position is slightly worse, keep fighting! Maintain pressure, and your opponent may crack.
5. The Importance of Prophylaxis
Several of Xiong’s problems stemmed from failing to anticipate Caruana’s plans. A prophylactic approach would ask: “What does my opponent want to do, and how can I prevent it?”
When Caruana was building his kingside attack, Black needed to consider:
- Can I trade off his attacking pieces?
- Can I create counterplay elsewhere?
- Should I close the position or open it?
Instead, Black’s moves like 26…g5? helped White’s attack rather than hindering it.
Statistical Summary
Caruana (White)
- Good moves: 31 (68.9%)
- Inaccuracies: 7
- Mistakes: 2
- Average centipawn loss: 15.6
Xiong (Black)
- Good moves: 22 (50.0%)
- Inaccuracies: 11
- Mistakes: 5
- Blunders: 1
- Average centipawn loss: 24.1
Conclusion
This game showcased Fabiano Caruana’s exceptional understanding of the Anti-Berlin system and his ability to generate a kingside attack while maintaining positional control. Though both players made mistakes—this was no computer game—Caruana’s pressure eventually told, and the young Jeffery Xiong cracked at the critical moment.
For club players, this game offers valuable lessons about piece coordination, the importance of trading off dominant enemy pieces, and how sustained pressure can induce errors even from the best players in the world.
The 2019 US Championship ultimately went to Hikaru Nakamura, but games like this one remind us why Fabiano Caruana remains one of the most feared attackers in world chess—and why Jeffery Xiong, despite this loss, has the talent to challenge for American supremacy for years to come.
Analysis generated with Stockfish engine assistance. Historical and biographical information gathered from Saint Louis Chess Club, Chess.com, US Chess Federation, and FIDE records.
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