Jennifer Shahade and Macauley Peterson review the eighth round of the US Chess Championship at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

Saint. Louis, May 16 -- After eight rounds of tense competition at the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship, two young players enter the final round tied for the lead and the title. 

Former champion and second seed Hikaru Nakamura, 21, of White Plains, N.Y., who in 2004 became the youngest player since Bobby Fischer to win the national title, was the first to take the lead in the penultimate round by beating Michael Brooks, of Kansas City, Mo. He has six points.

When reusing images please credit: Betsy Dynako, Official Event Photographer