SAINT LOUIS (September 4, 2014) -- Clinching first place of the 2014 Sinquefield Cup is GM Fabiano Caruana, who claimed the lion's share of the U.S. super tournament's $315,000 prize fund with two rounds remaining. What was left behind, however, was a monumental streak of seven-consecutive wins against the highest-rated field in history -- versus five of the world's current top-ten International Grandmasters. (Play through all of his wins in the latest CLO post.)

In Thursday's round 8, World Champion GM Magnus Carlsen held Caruana to his first half-point of the tournament, an effort that simultaneously knocked Caruana down to a less-than-perfect 7.5/8 and also mathematically ended Carlsen's chances to catch the leader from behind.

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The half-point maintains the World Champion's place in clear second with 4.5/8, though GM Veselin Topalov (4/8) lurks just a half-point behind after defeating GM Hikaru Nakamura (2/8) on Thursday. GMs Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave settled with a draw to remain tied in fourth, with 3/8.

Follow live coverage of the tournament with commentary by GM Maurice Ashley, GM Yasser Seirawan and CLO editor WGM Jen Shahade starting at 1:50 CST/2:50 EST at uschesschamps.com/live.