Shankland wins US Championship

GM Sam Shankland is the new US Champion after finishing half a point ahead of GM Fabiano Caruana in the 11 round event. Shankland's score of 8.5 equalled the best score in the modern 12 player era. Shankland and Caruana were tied after 8 rounds, but it was Shankland's 3 wins in a row, to Caruana's draw followed by 2 wins were the difference.
In third place was Wesley So on 6.5, while Hikaru Nakamura was in a group of players on 5.5.
Despite his second place finish, Caruana played one of the more interesting games in the tournament. Up against Varuzhan Akobian, he decided to go charging straight up the middle, while Akobian was aiming his forces on the queenside. It turned out to be the right plan, even when Akobian had a pawn on a2, looking to promote. Once f7 fell to Caruana, the game was essentially over.


Caruana,Fabiano (2804) - Akobian,Varuzhan (2647) [C11]
ch-USA 2018 Saint Louis USA (7.2), 25.04.2018