2012 U.S. Championships News
Top Female Chess Players to Compete in Cairns Cup in Saint Louis
Saint Louis Chess Club to host elite international players in tournament that offers one of the largest chess prize funds for women
SAINT LOUIS, June 7, 2024 - The Cairns Cup, an elite-level female chess tournament created by the Saint Louis Chess Club, returns this June and will feature ten of the world's best female chess players. Named in honor of Saint Louis Chess Club co-founder Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, the tournament reflects the Club’s mission to promote the game of chess among women.
As one of the premier women’s tournaments globally, the ten-player round robin tournament will be hosted at the World Chess Hall of Fame from June 12 to 23. This year’s event boasts one of the strongest female fields, competing for an increased total prize fund of $200,000.
The event kicks off on Wednesday, June 12 with the Ultimate Moves, a fun and casual exhibition event featuring 82-year-old Women’s World Chess Champion Nona Gaprindashvili from Georgia and the Cairns Cup field.
“We are proud to again organize an elite international chess tournament created to provide more opportunities for female chess players,” said Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, Co-founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “We hope by providing a world-class facility and a competitive prize fund, we will help inspire more women to play chess on a competitive level.”
The 2024 Cairns Cup field will feature:
| TITLE | NAME | FIDE RATING | FEDERATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM | Tan Zhongyi | 2540 | CHN |
| GM | Mariya Muzychuk | 2510 | UKR |
| GM | Nana Dzagnidze | 2506 | GEO |
| GM | Anna Muzychuk | 2505 | UKR |
| GM | Harika Dronavalli | 2503 | IND |
| GM | Alexandra Kosteniuk | 2501 | SUI |
| IM | Elisabeth Paehtz | 2457 | GER |
| GM | Irina Krush | 2415 | USA |
| IM | Alice Lee | 2368 | USA |
| IM | Anna Zatonskih | 2331 | USA |
“The Saint Louis Chess Club continues to innovate in promoting the game of chess,” said Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “Events like the Cairns Cup are crucial for the development of American women in chess. They provide a platform for our talented players to compete against the world's best, gaining invaluable experience and inspiration.”
Each round of the Cairns Cup will be streamed live daily from June 13 to 23 at 1 p.m. CT with the expert commentary team of Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan and International Masters Jovanka Houska and Nazi Paikidze.
In addition, Gaprindashvili will be an honored guest at the opening ceremony as part of her world chess tour. She will also host an all-girls simul event at the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF), where she will simultaneously play multiple games at a time, encouraging young girls along the way. Gaprindashvili will also appear at “Ladies Knight” on Thursday, June 13 at the World Chess Hall of Fame from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Gaprindashvili, a living chess legend, was the women's world chess champion from 1962 to 1978, and in 1978, she became the first woman ever to be awarded the International Chess Federation (FIDE) title of grandmaster. Gaprindashvili is also an inductee to the World Chess Hall of Fame.
The Cairns Cup will be hosted at the WCHOF, the leading chess cultural center in the country, where the all-new exhibition “Clash for the Crown: Celebrating Chess Champions," is currently on display.
The exhibition is being held in conjunction with the 100th-anniversary celebration of the FIDE and explores the histories of the World Chess Championship and Women’s World Chess Championship through a display of artifacts from the collection of the WCHOF, FIDE and loans and donations from world chess champions and women’s world chess champions including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Alexandra Kosteniuk and Susan Polgar, as well as private lenders.
For more information and to watch the livestream, visit uschesschamps.com.
About the Saint Louis Chess Club
The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
SAINT LOUIS, March 26, 2024 - The 2024 American Cup is one for the history books as 14-year-old International Master (IM) Alice Lee clinched her first major tournament win, while Grandmaster (GM) Levon Aronian captured his first American Cup win and first victory as an American player in the Women’s and Open tournaments, respectively.
“This year’s American Cup was incredible to watch, from innovative ideas over the board to strategic match play, everyone gave it their all,” said Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “It was particularly incredible to see Alice achieve such a professional milestone at such a young age. Our heartfelt congratulations to both her and Levon on their brilliant play against a stellar field of competitors.”
As one of the nation's premier chess events, the American Cup featured a double-elimination knockout tournament with a total prize fund of $400,000. The tournament was organized by the Saint Louis Chess Club and hosted at the iconic World Chess Hall of Fame from March 12-21, 2024.
Women's Section Final Standings
Playing a total of 12 games against GM Irina Krush, IM Alice Lee lost her first match against two-time American Cup Champion to come back in the Elimination Bracket. Lee went on to defeat Krush in back-to-back matches, wrapping things up in the blitz playoff after four decisive rapid games. For her efforts, Alice Lee won her first Women’s American Cup title and a check for $40,000.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their support - my family, coaches and friends, and a big thanks to the Saint Louis Chess Club and Rex Sinquefield and all of the players for making this a wonderful event,” said Lee.
Krush was the runner-up, winning $39,000, including a $9,000 bonus for winning the Champions Bracket. Saint Louisan Women Grandmaster (WGM) Begim Tokhirjonova finished in third place, taking home a check for $20,000.
| Place | Name | Location | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IM Alice Lee | North Oaks, Minn. | $40,000 |
| 2 | GM Irina Krush | Brooklyn, N.Y. | $39,000 |
| 3 | WGM Begim Tokhirjonova | St. Louis, Mo. | $20,000 |
| 4 | WGM Jennifer Yu | Ashburn, Va. | $15,000 |
| 5-6 | IM Nazi Paikidze | Las Vegas, Nev. | $10,000 |
| 5-6 | FM Zoey Tang | Portland, Ore. | $10,000 |
| 7-8 | WGM Tatev Abrahamyan | St. Louis, Mo. | $8,000 |
| 7-8 | IM Anna Zatonskih | Bochum, Germany | $8,000 |
Open Section Final Standings
In the Open section of the American Cup, GM Levon Aronian from St. Louis, Mo. went unbeaten in all 19 of his games to win his first American Cup title and claimed the $90,000 first prize, including a $15,000 bonus for winning the Champions Bracket.
“I’d like to thank the Saint Louis Chess Club and Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield for their contribution. Winning at home is always a special feeling. Being supported all the way by the people who work at the Club and everyone who lives in Saint Louis are excited to have so many great chess players living in this area, and I’m proud to be one of them. I’d also like to thank my family and hope the next events will be as successful as this one,” said Aronian.
GM Wesley So took the runner-up slot and earned $55,000 while fellow St. Louisan GM Ray Robson finished in third place, winning $30,000.
| Place | Name | Location | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM Levon Aronian | St. Louis, Mo. | $90,000 |
| 2 | GM Wesley So | Excelsior, Minn. | $55,000 |
| 3 | GM Ray Robson | St. Louis, Mo. | $30,000 |
| 4 | GM Fabiano Caruana | St. Louis, Mo. | $25,000 |
| 5-6 | GM Leinier Dominguez | St. Louis, Mo. | $15,000 |
| 5-6 | GM Sam Sevian | Holden, Mass. | $15,000 |
| 7-8 | GM Sam Shankland | Orinda, Calif. | $10,000 |
| 7-8 | GM Grigoriy Oparin | Columbia, Mo. | $10,000 |
Chess fans can watch the full coverage of the American Cup on the Saint Louis Chess Club's YouTube channel with expert commentary from Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan and Cristian Chirila, along with Woman Grandmaster Anastasiya Karlovich.
Outside of exciting match play, representatives from Khaan Chess LLC, producers of luxury chess sets designed to celebrate the history of the Mongolian nomadic people, gifted a specially designed “Friendship Chess” chess set to be a part of the permanent collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, as well as two other sets to the winners of the American Cup divisions. The “Friendship Chess” set was created to honor the special friendship between Genghis Khan and Jamukha Khan, two influential leaders in Mongolian history.
Next up will be the Saint Louis Chess Club’s coverage of the 2024 FIDE Candidates, taking place April 3-22 in Toronto, Canada. Tune in to uschesschamps.com daily as GM’s Yasser Seirawan, Evgenij Miroshnichenko and IM Nazi Paikidze follow American contenders No. 2 ranked GM Fabiano Caruana and No. 3 ranked GM Hikaru Nakamura in their run for the World Championship challenger’s spot. In addition, the Spring Classic will be hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club April 11-19, 2024.
Visit uschesschamps.com for more information.
About the Saint Louis Chess Club
The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
Saint Louis to Host Exciting Double-Elimination Tournament, Offering $400,000 in Prizes to Elite Competitors
SAINT LOUIS, February 15, 2024 - The Saint Louis Chess Club is excited to announce the return of the American Cup, one of the nation's premier chess tournaments, to Saint Louis. Now in its third year, the event will run from March 12-21, 2024, at the iconic World Chess Hall of Fame, featuring sixteen of America's top chess talents.
The American Cup includes some of the best American players, including world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. Caruana is set to compete in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, eyeing the coveted position of the world champion challenger. The tournament also shines a spotlight on GM Irina Krush, a distinguished figure in American chess with eight U.S. Women's Championship titles and two American Cup victories to her name.
With $400,000 in prize money up for grabs - an increase from 2023, the competitors will prove their mettle under mounting pressure in the double-elimination knockout format. This exciting structure ensures that players have a second chance for victory, promising high-stakes drama and thrilling matchups for chess fans worldwide.
“We’re proud to showcase some of the top American chess talent once again in this year’s American Cup,” said Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. "With a field that includes some of the strongest male and female competitors, we're expecting an electrifying series of games right up to the very last move."
The tournament format divides the sixteen participants into two brackets of eight players each, who will face off in a series of knockout matches. Players will contest 4-game matches, including two classical and two rapid games. Winners will progress within the Championship Bracket, while those facing defeat will have another opportunity for glory in the Elimination Bracket, where all the play is rapid, and a second loss results in elimination.
OPEN FIELD
| Title | Name | Location | Current FIDE Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM | Fabiano Caruana | Saint Louis, MO | 2804 |
| GM | Wesley So | Excelsior, MN | 2757 |
| GM | Leinier Dominguez | Saint Louis, MO | 2752 |
| GM | Levon Aronian | Saint Louis, MO | 2725 |
| GM | Sam Sevian | Holden, MA | 2697 |
| GM | Ray Robson | Saint Louis, MO | 2696 |
| GM | Sam Shankland | Orinda, CA | 2674 |
| GM | Grigoriy Oparin | Columbia, MO | 2671 |
WOMEN’S FIELD
| Title | Name | Location | Current FIDE Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM | Irina Krush | Brooklyn, NY | 2421 |
| IM | Alice Lee | North Oaks, MN | 2379 |
| WGM | Begim Tokhirjonova | Saint Louis, MO | 2365 |
| WGM | Anna Zatonskih | Bochum, Germany | 2347 |
| IM | Nazi Paikidze | Las Vegas, NV | 2319 |
| WGM | Tatev Abrahamyan | Saint Louis, MO | 2306 |
| FM | Jennifer Yu | Ashburn, VA | 2279 |
| WGM | Zoey Tang | Portland, OR | 2253 |
The rounds will be streamed live daily on uschesschamps.com with expert commentary featuring Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan and Cristian Chirila, along with Woman Grandmaster Anastasiya Karlovich.
Visit uschesschamps.com for more information.
About the Saint Louis Chess Club
The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons, and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit saintlouischessclub.org.
The 2023 Winter Chess Classic reached its thrilling conclusion with Team A emerging as the ultimate victors, showcasing exceptional skill and strategic brilliance. The A Team secured a final score of 135, outshining Team B, who scored 117 in this intense battle of wits.
Individual performances were nothing short of spectacular, with two standout players making a significant impact on Team A's success:
Grigory Oparin (Board 1):
- Rating: 2667
- Final Weighted Score: 29.5
- Team Prize: $2,500
- Individual Prize: $1,500
- Total Earnings: $4,000
- Notable Achievement: Finished with a remarkable +10 score and an unweighted score of 17/24.
Lazaro Bruzon (Board 4):
- Rating: 2594
- Current Score: 25
- Team Prize: $2,500
- Individual Prize: $1,500
- Total Due: $4,000
- Notable Achievement: Finished with a +4 score and an unweighted score of 14/24.
The complete individual and team results are as follows:
Team A
- Board 1: Grigory Oparin - $4,000
- Board 2: Benjamin Gledura - $2,500
- Board 3: Mikhail Antipov - $4,000
- Board 4: Lazaro Bruzon - $4,000
- Board 5: Harshit Raja - $4,000
- Board 6: Josiah Stearman - $2,500
Team B:
- Board 1: Nikolas Theodorou - $1,500
- Board 2: Dariusz Swiercz - $3,000
- Board 3: Benjamin Bok - $1,500
- Board 4: Var Akobian - $1,500
- Board 5: Batsuren Dambasuren - $1,500
- Board 6: Akshat Chandra - $3,000
The Winter Chess Classic 2023 proved to be an intense and riveting chess spectacle, with grandmasters showcasing their prowess in classical, rapid, and blitz chess. Congratulations to Team A on their well-deserved victory and to all participants for making this event an unforgettable chess experience. Until the next classic encounter on the board!
The 2023 Winter Chess Classic entered the penultimate day with a dramatic shift after the conclusion of the rapid chess rounds. The players, having showcased their strategic prowess in classical chess over the initial three days, shifted gears to the faster-paced games, and the outcomes have reshaped the landscape of the tournament.
Team B, led by the stellar performance of Grigory Oparin on Board 1, emerged as the dominant force in the rapid chess rounds. Oparin's exceptional display, winning 5.5 out of 6 games, propelled Team B to a substantial lead with a score of 96.5 against Team A's 83.5. With 12 rounds of blitz tomorrow, you can be sure the A Team will give the final day their all.
The current board standings illustrate the individual contributions to the team scores:
Team A
- Board 1: Oparin, Grigory (2667) - 21.5 points
- Board 2: Gledura, Benjamin (2633) - 14.5 points
- Board 3: Antipov, Mikhail (2607) - 16 points
- Board 4: Bruzon, Lazaro (2594) - 18.5 points
- Board 5: Raja, Harshit (2509) - 16.5 points
- Board 6: Stearman, Josiah (2479) - 9.5 points
Team B
- Board 1: Theodorou, Nikolas (2626) - 14.5 points
- Board 2: Swiercz, Dariusz (2615) - 15 points
- Board 3: Bok, Benjamin (2614) - 16 points
- Board 4: Akobian, Var (2576) - 11.5 points
- Board 5: Dambasuren, Batsuren (2523) - 14 points
- Board 6: Chandra, Akshat (2486) - 12.5 points
As the tournament heads into the final day of blitz, the battle for supremacy intensifies. The players have displayed exceptional skill and strategy, setting the stage for an exhilarating conclusion to the Winter Chess Classic at Saint Louis University. Stay tuned for the final showdown!