Fischer Random – 2015 Showdown in Saint Louis
Fischer Random chess has been a controversial chess variant for some time. With the semi-random way the game starts (there are positions that cannot be played as they give White too big of an advantage), it is impossible to predict exactly how the games will begin and therefore it is impossible to have any kind […]
Basque Chess – Showdown in Saint Louis
Nakamura vs. Caruana The Basque chess games started with some exciting developments. It is difficult to juggle two games of chess at the same time, especially against such strong opposition. In the Nakamura vs. Caruana game, the number one player in America essayed the Trompowsky opening; however, it was not successful at all. Fabi gained […]
Crowned: Nakamura, Krush are 2015 U.S. King and Queen
Grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura and Irina Krush have earned the 2015 U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships, recording a career total of 11 national titles between the two. GM Hikaru Nakamura and GM Irina Krush both sealed the deal in Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Chess Championships, enshrining their names as 2015’s king and queen […]
Penultimate: Nakamura Holds Robson Back; Nemcova Loss Gives Krush Clear Lead
GM Hikaru Nakamura kept his half-point lead of the U.S. Chess Championship by holding the pursuing GM Ray Robson to a draw Saturday afternoon. // Lennart Ootes photo The stage is set for a thrilling Sunday finale in the 2015 U.S. Chess Championships. In Saturday’s penultimate round, neither leader GM Hikaru Nakamura no GM Ray […]
So Shocked: Wesley Forfeited From U.S. Championship Ninth Round
World Top 10 GM Wesley So learned a FIDE rule the hard way Friday afternoon, after being forfeitted for improper notation on his scoresheet. // Lennart Ootes photo By FM Kostya Kavutskiy Sadly, a great day of chess in the U.S. Championship was marred by an unfortunate incident that happened within the first hour of […]
Robson Catches Nakamura; Nemcova Wins Again in Round 7
GM Ray Robson pulled out a nail-biting affair with GM Daniel Naroditsky in Wednesday’s Round 6, at one point falling to just one second on his clock. // Kevin Duggin photo By FM Kosta Kavutskiy One could not have predicted a more dramatic finale to the seventh round of the 2015 U.S. Chess Championship. Early […]
U.S. Champs R6: Robson Takes Down So; Nakamura, Nemcova Hold Lead
GM Ray Robson moved into clear second on Tuesday, after taking down his former Webster University roommate and World Top-10 GM Wesley So. // Lennart Ootes Photo By FM Kostya Kavutskiy The lone rest day on Monday was put to good use, as recharged players returned Tuesday for Round 6 and produced some of the […]
Nakamura, Nemcova Stay On Top; Krush, So Half-Step Behind
An Easter Sunday victory pushed GM Hikaru Nakamura to clear first of the 2015 U.S. Chess Championship entering Monday’s rest day. // Kevin Duggin photo By FM Kostya Kavutskiy Easter Sunday at the 2015 U.S. Chess Championships saw some powerful attacks and incredible swings as GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Wesley So, GM Gata Kamsky and […]
U.S. Champs Round 4: Nakamura Holds Off So; Nemcova Takes Clear Lead
Grandmasters Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura // Lennart Ootes Photo By FM Kostya Kavutskiy On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Saint Louis, all eyes were on the key matchup of the 2015 U.S. Championship, as GM Hikaru Nakamura pressed for an edge against GM Wesley So in a strategic Queen’s Gambit Declined. Fighting against two […]
Nakamura and So Take U.S. Lead, Grab World No. 2 and 5 spots
American No. 1 GM Hikaru Nakamura crossed the super-elite 2800 FIDE rating threshold and became the World No. 2 with his second-round win at the 2015 U.S. Chess Championships. // Photo by Kevin Duggin America’s longtime chess hero GM Hikaru Nakamura played smoothly to dispatch GM Var Akobian in a sharp French Defense, a U.S. […]