Highest Rated Field Set for 2016 U.S. Championships

For more information, please contact:

Nicole Halpin
Communications Coordinator
(314) 309-0799
nhalpin@saintlouischessclub.org

 For Immediate Release  

Highest Rated Field Set for 2016 U.S. Championships

Nakamura, Caruana, So, and Krush Confirmed

 

SAINT LOUIS (February 9, 2016) – For the eighth consecutive year, the nation’s top 24 chess players will gather in Saint Louis to compete for the titles of U.S. Champion and U.S. Women’s Champion.

The 2016 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship, boasting the strongest fields of American men and women ever assembled, will be held simultaneously at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) from April 13 through April 30.

The U.S. Championship features a headline clash between the nation’s top-three players: Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, the top American player and world number seven will seek to defend his title against world number three GM Fabiano Caruana, who is making his first-ever U.S. Championship debut, and GM Wesley So, who is currently ranked No. 10 in the world.  Beyond the three global elite, half of this year’s national championship field are players currently ranked in the top 100 in the world, including former U.S. Champion GM Gata Kamsky and 2014 Olympiad gold-medalist GM Sam Shankland.

The 2016 U.S. Women's Championship will feature seven-time U.S. Women’s Champion GM Irina Krush, who seeks to maintain her iron grip over an up-and-coming field of American females. Krush’s competition includes IM Anna Zatonskih, the current No. 1 rated American woman, who returns this year after taking last year off due to having a new baby, and two up-and-coming teenagers - 14-year-old WIM Jennifer Yu and 12-year-old Carrisa Yip.

“The U.S. Championships are my favorite events each year. We work hard to promote America’s best players, and many of them feel like a part of our chess family,” said Tony Rich, Executive Director of the CCSCSL. “These players represent an outstanding cross-section of the current state of U.S. chess, creating what is certain to be a fierce competition for our nation’s highest titles.”

The 2016 U.S. Championships will be streamed live daily on www.uschesschamps.com, featuring play-by-play and analysis from the world-renowned commentary team of GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Maurice Ashley and WGM Jennifer Shahade. Live spectators may view the action in the tournament hall and enjoy additional GM-led commentary on-site. Additional event, ticketing and hotel information may be found at www.uschesschamps.com.

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About The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis 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 Chess Club and Scholastic Center 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.

 

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2016 U.S. Championship Field

Title

First Name

Last Name

USCF Rating

Jan 2016

Age

Residence

GM

Hikaru

Nakamura

2869

28

New York, NY

GM

Fabiano

Caruana

2858

23

Saint Louis, MO

GM

Wesley

So

2848

22

Minnetonka, MN

GM

Ray

Robson

2752

21

Saint Louis, MO

GM

Gata

Kamsky

2737

40

Brooklyn, NY

GM

Alex

Onischuk

2745

41

Lubbock, TX

GM

Alex

Lenderman

2727

26

Brooklyn, NY

GM

Sam

Shankland

2723

24

Orinda, CA

GM

Varuzhan

Akobian

2704

32

North Hollywood, CA

IM

Akshat

Chandra

2608

15

Iselin, NJ

GM

Alex

Shabalov

2622

48

Pittsburgh, PA

GM

Jeffery

Xiong

2675

15

Coppell, TX

Average Rating

2739






2016 U.S. Women’s Championship Field

Title

First Name

Last Name

USCF Rating

Jan 2016

Age

Residence

GM

Irina

Krush

2535

32

Brooklyn. NY

IM

Anna

Zatonskih

2542

35

Hartsdale, NY

WGM

Tatev

Abrahamyan

2450

28

Glendale, CA

WGM

Katerina

Nemcova

2428

25

Saint Louis, MO

IM

Nazi

Paikidze

2398

22

Baltimore, MD

WGM

Anna

Sharevich

2367

30

Saint Louis, MO

WGM

Sabina

Foisor

2332

26

Lubbock, TX

WFM

Jennifer

Yu

2306

13

Ashburn, VA

NM

Carissa

Yip

2305

12

Andover, MA

WIM

Ashritha

Eswaran

2238

15

San Jose, CA

WIM

Agata

Bykovtsev

2239

16

Goleta, CA

WIM

Akshita

Gorti

2297

13

Chantilly, VA

Average Rating

2370