2012 U.S. Championships News

Winter Chess Classic 2023: Day 2 Recap

The Winter Chess Classic 2023 continued its thrilling journey into day two. The atmosphere was cool and overcast, providing the perfect backdrop for intense chess battles among some of the finest minds in the game. A total of 12 exceptionally skilled players, including 11 Grandmasters and 1 International Master, are squaring off through Wednesday in the Sinquefield Commons at Saint Louis University.

Players will face each other in 6 classical games (worth 3 points each), 6 rapid games (2 points each) and 12 blitz games (1 point each). Notably for this event, all participants either currently attend or have graduated from a Missouri university. Each of these 12 chess prodigies calls Saint Louis or Columbia, Missouri, their home.

Team Standings

Team Place Team Score
1 Team A 39
2 Team B 33

After Day 2, Team A maintains its lead with a score of 39, while Team B is close behind with 33 points. Unfortunately for the Billikens, it seems the home court advantage hasn’t held up. The B Team all call SLU home.

“It was a tough start.” said Var Akobian, board four and team captain. “But as I reminded my players, we’re still in this, and we have rapid and blitz coming up.”

Board White Result Black
Round 3
1 Oparin, Grigory ½-½ Bok, Benjamin
2 Dambasuren, Batsuren ½-½ Gledura, Benjamin
3 Theodorou, Nikolas ½-½ Antipov, Mikhail
4 Bruzon, Lazaro ½-½ Swiercz, Dariusz
5 Raja, Harshit 1-0 Chandra, Akshat
6 Akobian, Var ½-½ Stearman, Josiah

Akshat Chandra vs Harshit Raja

Board White Result Black
Round 4
1 Akobian, Var ½-½ Oparin, Grigory
2 Chandra, Akshat ½-½ Gledura, Benjamin
3 Antipov, Mikhail ½-½ Swiercz, Dariusz
4 Bruzon, Lazaro ½-½ Theodorou, Nikolas
5 Bok, Benjamin ½-½ Raja, Harshit
6 Stearman, Josiah 0-1 Dambasuren, Batsuren

With 30 points on the line over the next three days, players are certain to redouble their efforts over the board. The Winter Chess Classic promises to deliver more exciting moves and intense showdowns as the players continue their pursuit of victory. Stay tuned for further updates on this captivating chess spectacle at Saint Louis University!

Winter Chess Classic 2023: Grandmasters Shine in Initial Clashes

After a riveting start with two rounds of classical chess, the Winter Chess Classic 2023 has witnessed extraordinary performances from both Team A and Team B. The clash of grandmasters has not only showcased strategic intricacies but has also set the stage for an intense battle to claim the Winter Chess Classic title. Team A took an early lead, but with 4 days of action left, everything is still up for grabs. Let's delve into the results of the initial clashes.

Team Standings

Team Place Team Score
1 Team A 21
2 Team B 15

Team A Roster

Board Player Rating Current Score
1 Oparin, Grigory 2667 4.5
2 Gledura, Benjamin 2633 4.5
3 Antipov, Mikhail 2607 3
4 Bruzon, Lazaro 2594 4.5
5 Raja, Harshit 2509 3
6 Stearman, Josiah 2479 1.5

Team B Roster

Board Player Rating Current Score
1 Theodorou, Nikolas 2626 3
2 Swiercz, Dariusz 2615 1.5
3 Bok, Benjamin 2614 4.5
4 Akobian, Var 2576 1.5
5 Dambasuren, Batsuren 2523 1.5
6 Chandra, Akshat 2486 3

Team A, captained by Mizzou Head Coach GM Cristian Chirila and led by GM Grigory Oparin on board 1, has taken an early lead with a solid performance across the boards. Grigory Oparin, Benjamin Gledura, and Lazaro Bruzon, along with Mikhail Antipov, scored crucial wins and contributed to the team's overall success. However, Team B, led by SLU Head Coach GM Varuzhan Akobian, is not far behind. With several rounds remaining, the competition is far from decided.

Var Akobian vs Lazaro BruzonVaruzhan Akobian vs Lazaro Bruzon

Classical Round 1

Board White Result Black
1 Oparin, Grigory (A) 1-0 Theodorou, Nikolas (B)
2 Swiercz, Dariusz (B) 0-1 Gledura, Benjamin (A)
3 Bok, Benjamin (B) 1-0 Antipov, Mikhail (A)
4 Bruzon, Lazaro (A) 1-0 Akobian, Var (B)
5 Dambasuren, Batsuren (B) ½-½ Raja, Harshit (A)
6 Stearman, Josiah (A) ½-½ Chandra, Akshat (B)

Classical Round 2

Board White Result Black
1 Swiercz, Dariusz (B) ½-½ Oparin, Grigory (A)
2 Gledura, Benjamin (A) ½-½ Bok, Benjamin (B)
3 Antipov, Mikhail (A) 1-0 Dambasuren, Batsuren (B)
4 Chandra, Akshat (B) ½-½ Bruzon, Lazaro (A)
5 Raja, Harshit (A) ½-½ Akobian, Var (B)
6 Theodorou, Nikolas (B) 1-0 Stearman, Josiah (A)

The Winter Chess Classic is played across three time controls: classical, rapid, and blitz, with classical games worth three points, rapid games worth two, and blitz one. The grandmasters continue to unfold the chessboard with each move bringing them closer to victory. As the players gear up for the rapid and blitz rounds, the intensity is sure to reach new heights. Stay tuned for more updates from this chess spectacle at Saint Louis University!

The 2023 Winter Chess Classic Starts Today

Benjamin BokOn a rainy December morning, the chess community is buzzing with excitement as the Winter Chess Classic 2023 is about to kick off. With grandmasters from around the globe descending upon our city, this event promises to be a thrilling showcase of strategic brilliance and tactical mastery.

The tournament, hosted in the heart of the city at the prestigious Saint Louis University starting today, will witness 12 internationally-ranked players battling it out for the coveted Winter Chess Classic title. The participants include reigning champions, rising stars, and seasoned veterans, each ready to put their skills to the test in the unforgiving arena of the 64 squares.

“While this is the first Classic we’ve hosted at SLU, it won’t be our last”, said Varuzhan Akobian, Head Coach of the Saint Louis University Chess Team and participant in the 2023 Winter Chess Classic. “We’re happy to play host for such an exciting event.”

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Winter Chess Classic is the format. It is a team tournament featuring 6 players on each team, competing for more than $30,000 in prizes. This tournament promises a riveting chess marathon. From the classical rounds Saturday through Monday to the rapid and blitz rounds that follow, each game is a crucial step towards claiming victory. The tournament culminates in a day full of blitz and, should they be needed, playoffs and a farewell to the players. From the classical rounds that demand patience and deep calculation to the rapid and blitz rounds that test quick thinking and adaptability, the players will face a diverse set of challenges.

The 2023 Winter Chess Classic is not just a tournament; it's a celebration of intellect, strategy, and the global chess community. Tune in daily to uschesschamps.com to follow all the action. May the best mind prevail!

2023 U.S. Chess Champions: Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana Defends Title to Become Three-Time U.S. Champion; International Master Carissa Yip Wins Second Title in Women’s Division

SAINT LOUIS (October 19, 2023) – Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana and International Master Carissa Yip took top honors out of a field of elite American chess players in the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship and 2023 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, respectively. 

 

Hosted in America’s chess capital by the Saint Louis Chess Club at the World Chess Hall of Fame October 5 - 18, 2023, the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship events featured 24 of the top chess players who competed for a purse of more than $400,000.

 

“This year’s U.S. Championships were among some of the most exciting we’ve hosted at the Saint Louis Chess Club with incredible matches and dramatic finishes from the best chess players from across the country,” Tony Rich, Executive Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “This year’s tournaments also mark the 15th anniversary of the formation of the Saint Louis Chess Club and as the host of these top-tier national competitions. Saint Louis, often referred to as the Chess Capital of America, has been the backdrop for countless memorable moments in the world of chess, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with the players that continue to make the United States one of the most competitive countries in the world of chess.”

 

In impressive fashion, Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana claimed the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship and a $60,000 prize, marking his third national title, while Grandmasters Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez and Abhimanyu Mishra shared a three-way tie for second place, each earning $35,000.

 

“It’s always special for me to win the U.S. Chess Championship. It’s very important to me because of how strong of a tournament it is,” said Caruana. “It’s harder to get a win in chess these days because of how hard the competition is. It’s really huge for me to be able to win here because wins don’t come easy.”

 

Final tournament results:

 

POSITION

PLAYER

PRIZE MONEY

1

GM Fabiano Caruana

$60,000

T-2

GM Wesley So

$35,000

T-2

GM Leinier Dominguez

$35,000

T-2

GM Abhimanyu Mishra

$35,000

T-5

GM Ray Robson

$15,000

T-5

GM Sam Sevian

$15,000

T-5

GM Hans Niemann

$15,000

8

GM Levon Aronian

$10,000

T-9

GM Jeffery Xiong

$8,500

T-9

GM Sam Shankland

$8,500

T-11

GM Dariusz Swiercz

$6,500

T-11

GM Andrew Tang

$6,500

 

 

In the Women’s division, 19-year old International Master Carissa Yip became the 2023 U.S. Women’s Champion after a dramatic final round, taking home her second championship title and earning $40,000. Woman Grandmaster Begim Tohkirjonova earned the second place title and a prize of $30,000.

 

“When I got to the board for the last match, I really wanted to win. I’ve been playing chess non-stop for the past month and hoped we wouldn’t have to go to a play-off. Luckily things worked out,” said Yip.

 

Final tournament results:

 

POSITION

PLAYER

PRIZE MONEY

1

IM Carissa Yip

$40,000

2

WGM Begim Tokhirjonova

$30,000

3

FM Alice Lee

$20,000

4

WGM Tatev Abrahamyan

$13,000

5

GM Irina Krush

$9,000

6

IM Nazi Paikidze

$8,000

7

FM Ruiyang Yan

$7,000

T-8

IM Anna Zatonskih

$5,750

T-8

WGM Jennifer Yu

$5,750

10

WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan

$5,000

11

FM Ashritha Eswaran

$4,500

12

WGM Thalia Cervantes

$4,000

 

 

Replays and full tournament recaps about the 2023 U.S. Championships are available at www.uschesschamps.com or on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube channel

 

Also held in conjunction with the 2023 U.S. Championships, GM Yury Shulman, chess problemist William Shinkman and women’s chess pioneer Lisa Lane were inducted into the 2023 U.S. Chess Hall of Fame for their incredible contributions to the sport of chess.

For more information, visit saintlouischessclub.org, uschesschamps.com or worldchesshof.org.

 

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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.

 

About the World Chess Hall of Fame

The World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building awareness of the cultural and artistic significance of chess. It opened on September 9, 2011, in the Central West End after moving from previous locations in New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami. Housed in a historic 15,900 square-foot residence-turned-business in Saint Louis' Central West End neighborhood, the WCHOF features World Chess Hall of Fame inductees, United States Chess Hall of Fame inductees selected by the U.S. Chess Trust, artifacts from the permanent collection and exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games and rich cultural history of chess. The WCHOF partners with the Saint Louis Chess Club to provide innovative programming and outreach to local, national and international audiences. For more information, visit worldchesshof.org and on social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channels.

 

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