The tight drama of the 2014 U.S. Championships turned out to be all for show. When the dust of the near two-week long fight cleared, the two champions left standing were the same two champions as before.
Monday brings the final round for the 2014 U.S. Chess Championships and, in both races, three players are crowding the finish line. Varuzhan Akobian and Aleksandr Lenderman square off in a head-to-head, winner-take-all showdown for the title of 2014 U.S. Champion.
GM Irina Krush scored a must-win victory over her main rival Anna Zatonskih to pull even with one round to go. In the U.S. Championship, a pivotal head-to-head matchup between Varuzhan Akobian and Gata Kamsky looms.
The 2014 U.S. Championships returned from its break for one of the most chaos-driven rounds since the tournament began. Varuzhan Akobian leads the U.S. Championship while Anna Zatonskih leads the U.S. Women's Championship.
Varuzhan Akobian turned in his third quality win in a row Wednesday, leaving him in sole possession of first place of the 2014 U.S. Championship. In the women’s competition, Anna Zatonskih now leads with 5/6.
Despite a slow, draw-filled start, the U.S. Championship heated up as it passed its halfway point, with Tuesday’s sixth round featuring another day of bloodshed. Meanwhile, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Championship had its closest round of balance yet.
While the U.S. chess king questioned who might bear his crown next, America’s queen began resizing hers. Four-time champion Gata Kamsky walked through another uneventful draw on Monday afternoon while Irina Krush seized control of the U.S. Women's Championship.
Reigning Champion Gata Kamsky sprang to life on Sunday and scored his first win. Also winning on Sunday were Alex Onischuk, Timur Gareev and Alex Lenderman, who leads the event with 3.5/4.
The U.S. Championship saw just two more wins in Saturday’s third round. Aleksandr Lenderman’s second victory of the competition set him alone out front with 2.5/3. Anna Zatonskih won her game to pull even with Irina Krush in the U.S. Women's Championship.
