HOME OF U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS & THE COUNTRY’S TOP PLAYERS
Alexander Stripunsky
Title:
Grandmaster
Rating:
2680
Federation:
New York
Age:
41
Bio:
Alexander Stripunsky has picked up almost 40 rating points since the 2011 U.S. Championship and will enter the field with his highest-ever USCF rating.
Stripunsky has an excellent record in U.S. Championships, having competed in six. In 2006 he had a strong run, tying for 3rd place. He gained respect as one of America’s elite Grandmasters in the 2005 U.S. Championship, where he won a beautiful last round game against Alexander Goldin, tying for first. His fabulous tournament came to an end when he lost to Hikaru Nakamura in the playoff match.
In 2010, Stripunsky returned to the U.S. Championships after just missing out on qualifying the previous two years, and turned in a solid performance, finishing 6th out of 24 participants. He will be looking to improve upon his 2011 tournament performance, where he finished second-to-last in his qualifying group.
Stripunsky is disciplined when it comes to his chess career; he runs regularly and works hard at the board. He also appreciates the aesthetic power of chess, “The more you play, the more beauty you are able to see.”
A mainstay in American chess, Stripunsky will compete in his seventh U.S. Championship this year.
