(In Istanbul at the 2012 Olympiad)
Breaking News:
Super GM Fabiano Caruana has received an invitation to participate in the 2013 US Championship! According to USCF rules, he is eligible to play. Schedule permitting, he intends to accept!
This was the response from the organizer: “I have heard from the USCF that you are indeed eligible to play, and will be happy to keep you updated when we have more information available, and will be happy to keep you updated when we have more information available.”
However, the only potential complication is the intended dates for the US Championship may conflict with the FIDE Grand Prix events which all 3, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Gata Kamsky are obligated to play.
I hope that the dates can be modified to accommodate FIDE GP schedule so the top 3 players can participate in the next US Championship. Stay tuned for more information.
Fabiano played his first two tournaments at my Chess Center in Queens. I have followed his career over the years and I am very proud of what he has achieved. This will be a treat for American chess fans.
Update:
After I made the post, new information has come to light. This is the comment from Mr. Franc Guadalup, FIDE Zonal President for the U.S.:
Just to set the record straight…GM Caruana has not received an official invitation. He has, however, expressed interest in participating in the US Championship. The 2013 edition of the event is a Zonal Championship. As it stands right now, Fabiano’s FIDE flag is Italy. So…an invitation would be premature.
Franc Guadalupe
FIDE Zonal President for the U.S.
This seems to contradict what the organizer responded to Fabiano. According to the organizer (who has heard directly from the USCF), Fabiano indeed is eligible to play. He was definitely not told no, as it was made very clear to Fabiano. He was also definitely not told that he is ineligible. And since he is rated #1 in both USCF and FIDE, why would an invitation not be issued if he is eligible to play?
– Hikaru Nakamura 2834 USCF – 2760 FIDE
Fabiano is a world class player and a chess professional. If the USCF feel that he is not eligible to play, they should inform him directly and promptly so he can make other plans. Professional players make plans way in advance, sometimes a year or two in advance. It would be very unfair to leave him hanging.
Stay tuned for more as I have it.
Nobody is OBLIGATED to play
Of course you are if you signed a contract with the organizers. These are professional players.
Nakamura will roll him.
very cool. we need to make him our own 🙂 which he is.
That’s a wonderful news, congrats for the invitation.
2013 is a Zonal year. Since he plays under the Italian flag, he is not eligible according to FIDE rules.
Spero che tutti e tre possono giocare. E quando sarà Timur Gareev admissibile? Mi piacerebbe molto vedere un Campeonato di 10 o 12 che arriva a Categoria 19 (2700+).
I don’t understand – he doesn’t live in the U.S. and FIDE has him as representing the Italian chess federation. How is this possible, and why in the world would the USCF do this? Oh wait, it’s the USCF, never mind.
Just to set the record straight…GM Caruana has not received an official invitation. He has, however, expressed interest in participating in the US Championship. The 2013 edition of the event is a Zonal Championship. As it stands right now, Fabiano’s FIDE flag is Italy. So…an invitation would be premature.
Franc Guadalupe
FIDE Zonal President for the U.S.
Franc,
This is the official response from the organizer, which was provided to me by the Caruanas:
“I have heard from the USCF that you are indeed eligible to play, and will be happy to keep you updated when we have more information available….”
Fabiano and his family are under the impression that this is the case. If it is not, I think they should be notified promptly by the USCF so they can make other plans.
Best wishes,
Susan
Susan,
Earlier today, I was put in contact with Fabiano, via email. We will definitely clear that up for him.
Did the organizer say who, in the USCF, stated that he was eligible to play? In non-Zonal years, that would be no problem as it would be USCF’s decision. Next year, however, is a different story…
Thanks!
Franc
Thank you, Franc. I trust that you will clear up the mess. He is a good kid and a sensational player. I know him and his family since he started playing chess.
This is a part of the email: “I have heard from the USCF that you are indeed eligible to play, and will be happy to keep you updated when we have more information available.”
Best wishes,
Susan
The USCF lost Caruana once before because of lack of support. They will lose him again. It’s the US loss and gain for Italy.
Hi Susan,
No one is leaving Fabiano “hanging” nor is it that the USCF does not want him to participate — quite the opposite. IF he cannot participate, it will be because of FIDE rules regarding Zonal Championships, not USCF rules. That said, the USCF leadership, and I, have been exchanging emails with GM Caruana. I have also emailed FIDE officials in order to obtain clarification.
Best regards,
Franc
KWRegan,
FIDE has already given approval for GM Timur Gareev to represent the U.S. in International competitions, to include our Zonal Championship. He was eligible to represent the U.S. at the upcoming Continental Team Championship (January 2013) and was invited, but his schedule does not permit his attendance. I am pretty sure we will see him at the U.S. Championship!
Franc
This doesn’t mean Caruan is planning to play for the U.S. Federation, does it?
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It’s clear that someone high up at the USCF screwed it up. This person apparently told the organizer something that was false. Now it’s time to cover up to save face.
Franc is the only one who has the courage to speak up. Others are simply hiding when mistakes are made and they’re all over the website when they want credit for something good. Typical USCF politicians.
Yeah, Francisco is a good guy. Too bad there aren’t more of him.
I would think that another player with duel citizenship would be eligible and her name is International Master Martha Fierro, born in Rhode Island, and now playing for Ecuador. Would certainly make the women’s championship more than a 2 horse race.
Who from the USCF told the organizer that he’s qualified to play? That person should be removed from that position immediately.
Hello from Italy. Of course Fabiano is free to play in the US Championshis as well as in the Italian one, when the rules allow it. I just would like to recall that Fabiano himself stated in some interviews that he is also Italian citizen since the day of his birth (07-30-1992). He became International Master and Grand Master with the Italian Chess Federation, he won no less than four Italian championship and he was the first board of the Italian team at the Olympiads 2008, 2010 and 2012. Our chess federation supported him financially and significantly since 2007 along with some Italian private sponsors. I will remain one of his fans (as I am from the very beginning) whatever he will choose for his chess career and life.
Meh, it seems like this is being driven out of proportion. Someone obviously misspoke about his eligibility, probably because they were unaware of FIDE’s rule.
Much respect to Franc for quickly jumping on this, setting the record straight and then quickly getting in touch with Fabiano