The 2013 U.S. Championship went extra innings today. After splitting a pair of rapid games, GM Gata Kamsky won $30,000 and his fourth title in an Armageddon game against GM Alejandro Ramirez.
IM Irina Krush put on a dominating performance (8/9) to earn her fifth U.S. Women's Championship title. GMs Gata Kamsky and Alejandro Ramirez will play tomorrow at noon in a two-game rapid playoff to determine the U.S. Champion.
In a day in which both leaders could have at least guaranteed themselves a spot in a first-place tiebreak, only one built a safety net. Round 9 will determine either a champion or playoffs in both events.
GM Gata Kamsky could only draw GM Alejandro Ramirez in the U.S. Championship, which kept the door open for a handful of hopefuls. In the U.S. Women's Championship, three are still in contention for the first-place prize.
GM Alejandro Ramirez defeated GM Joel Benjamin to pull just a half point behind tourney leader GM Gata Kamsky. WGM Tatev Abrahamyan took advantage of an IM Irina Krush draw to inch closer.
