Fabiano Caruana has won two elite tournaments in a fortnight, jumped to No 2 in the live ratings only 21 points behind the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, and starts play in the US championship in St Louis on Wednesday.

America’s world title challenger is already putting psychological pressure on Carlsen, seven months before their 12-game world title series. While capturing the Grenke Classic at Baden-Baden, Caruana won his final two games with the unfavourable black pieces, and, just as in the candidates at Berlin, went for the full point in the last round when a draw would have ensured first prize.

“I wasn’t really thinking about winning the tournament but I kept getting chances and I took them.” The American grandmaster beat Nikita Vitiugov and finished a point ahead of Magnus Carlsen, who drew with Vishy Anand.

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