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
With wins on Sunday, U.S. No. 1 GM Hikaru Nakamura took clear first of the 2015 U.S. Championship, while reigning Women's champion GM Irina Krush pulled within a half-point of the lead. Monday will be a rest day.
Saturday at the 2015 U.S. Championship produced a day of tension-filled draws, including a begrudging truce between World No. 3 and 8 players Hikaru Nakamura and Wesley So, while the Women's Championship proved decisive.
GMs Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So and Irina Krush combined for just a half-point across three games in Friday's third round of the 2015 U.S. Chess Championships.
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.
