Fabiano Caruana

American GM

“These things are so relative. So, I think in a way it’s meaningless. I once reached 2850, and now 2850 would be number one in the world. But at the time, it was maybe 20 places lower than Magnus, and ratings change all the time.

If you mean, could Erdogmus be 50 points stronger than Magnus in two years? Then no. Could he be 100 or 120 points stronger than Pragg or one of the best players in the world? Then the answer is also no. Unless rating inflation somehow happens.

I’d say a more normal goal would be, for example, qualifying for the Candidates, trying to become World Champion, things like that.

You can say, ‘I want to be number one in the world’. But, ‘I want 2900, 3000’? all of these ratings are relative. Does he mean ‘I want to be 100 ranking points higher than the second-ranked player in the world’?

I see it more as a general desire: he wants to be number one in the world, which is certainly a worthy goal, and he certainly could achieve it. If everything goes well in his career, he could become a notable player. But it’s just a bit early to say anything.”