The United States will vie for the World Chess Championship later this year in London, England as Florida-born Fabiano Caruana won the Candidates tournament in Germany. This is the first time an American chess player will have played for the unified World Championship since Bobby Fischer in 1975. The 25 year old was born in Miami to Italian-American parents, and has played for both countries in the past.

The world championship match will take place in London, starting on November 9, 2018. The World Championship will be a twelve round match with tiebreakers if necessary.

Caruana will face the reigning two-term world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway for the title. In previous play, Carlsen holds the edge in FIDE-rated games with 17 wins and 10 losses against Caruana, with 19 draws. Carlsen has only ever lost 121 FIDE-rated games. He is currently the highest rated player in the world, with a rating of 2843, vs. Caruana's 2784. After beating seven of the other best players in the world in the Berlin Candidates tournament, however, Caruana's rating is sure to increase.

Chess enthusiasts in the US hope for renewed interest in the sport as the country supports its first player in decades in the world championship match.

By Ian Campbell