Two of the highest rated players, and potential favorites in the tournament, were tasked to face-off right off the bat during the first round matches. The game began in a slightly offbeat line of the Grunfeld Defense that is a pet line of Harmon-Vellotti.
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.
After Saturday's 10th round, Hikaru Nakamura held his lead after a draw with Ray Robson, but allowed Alex Onischuk into the mix for a shot at the National Chess Championship. Meanwhile, GM Irina Krush took clear first in the Women's Championship.
GM Wesley So's stunning disqualification just after the start of Friday's ninth round led the talk of the day, though action on the boards proved just as intriguing. GM Irina Krush turned in her third consecutive win to catch pace with WGM Katerina Nemcova.
American No. 1 GM Hikaru Nakamura regained sole possession of first place in the U.S. Championship, while reigning U.S. Women's champion GM Irina Krush took a half-step closer to the lead in Round 8.
World No. 2 GM Hikaru Nakamura could only find a draw against 14-year-old Sam Sevian on Wednesday, allowing GM Ray Robson to catch pace in the standings after a long affair with GM Daniel Naroditsky.
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
