Caruana to change to US Chess Federation ?

But the issue isn't whether his name is Italian, it's whether or not he's Italian.  His name could be a series of clicks and whistles and it doesn't change where he's from and where he grew up.

In the candidates matches, Kamsky beat two future world champs; Kramnik and Anand.

If Caruana wants to consider himself Italian, that's fine.  But to act like Caruana switching federations to the US is the same as So doing it is ridiculous.  Caruana is born and raised in the US and became a strong player here.  They just made the smart decision to move to Europe because it's easier to chase GM norms there for starters.

Well then look:



(inserted the coca cola too because that's the only american thing here)

Um, we all know he plays under the Italian flag now.  What's the point of that?

Caruana, Naka, and So would make 3/4 of a great olympiad team, but we would still need three more strong GMs to compete for gold. It's almost impossible for anyone to play the entire tournament at their highest level.

Kamsky would be a good ironic choice for board 4. After all, he left his native country to play for the US too!

I don't mind players switching nationalties once in their career, but I don't want to see the olympiad reduced to people switching nations due to financial or competitive considerations. Players should only be allowed to switch nationalities if they have strong connections and residence in their new country.

the point is that he feels more italian than american. so he wont change federations i guess

He wanted us to see how sexy Carlsen's hand is now.

He "feels" more Italian than American?  What on earth?  He currently plays under the Italian flag, likely for the reason that it was easier for him to obtain master norms in Europe.  That isn't really a consideration anymore, so there is a possibility of him changing to the American flag, now.  That's what's being discussed here.  I don't see what guessing that he "feels" more Italian has to do with this.  Especially based on a picture of him playing beside an Italian flag, which everyone obviously knew already.

Funny how you think he plays for italy only for commodity or such reasons, yet the only reason he would play for u.s. is this: $

I said it was likely, which seems pretty obvious, really.  I don't think it's obvious that the only reason he would play for the US is $, but it might be.  Neither of us really knows for sure and can say so with certainty, which is why it seems strange that you are trying to.

To be honest, I don't pretend to have entered Caruana's mind, but there's been so much talk from americans about him possibly switching only after the Sinq masterpiece tournament. As many of my friends are italian and they only have Caruana (its their first player of this caliber in their history), I tend to defend him from the mighty dollar - plus, only thing he would get beside money if he switched, would be the possibility to fight for a gold olympic medal. It would be nice but apart from that? He's already full developed player

Apart from that?  Maybe he considers it coming home.  It's where he was born and grew up.

OpiningTheoretician wrote:

chessmicky wrote:

Those are all American names--that's the whole point of America

I understand patriotism, but there's only one thing more italian than the name Fabiano Caruana: pizza.

Nope,real pizza comes from Chicago,or New York.

Oh my god... maybe america invented freedom but not pizza ;-)

Should try to play for New Zealand, over here we have very relaxed eligibility criteria. You don't have to be born here or ever lived (just a short visit will do) or have some far flung relative that lives here or just feel like a New Zealander.

I'm jumping in late here, but from what I understand the reason Caruana switched to Italy was precisely because it's easier to persur norms and easier to make a living as a chess player in Europe than it is in the US. He still considers himself very much American (as well as Italian) and considers America his home. And, for what it's worth, I've read that he still keeps a USCF membership as well.

As for "American" names: there are none. Unless you're a Native and have a Native name (few Natives even do these days) then every name in America came from somewhere other than America.

Shankland is our highest rated American born GM. He shall be 4th board.

It wont make much difference really as the US team has no chance of winning gold at the Olympiad .  Russia and China are too strong and too deep . 

with Caruana, Nakamura, So and other naturalized players you would have chances but it would be like the Qatar National team which was second in last World Cup