SAINT LOUIS (May 17, 2014) -- Rest days are meant for relaxation and preparation, a chance to collect one’s self and focus on the finish line. It’s a time to tighten up your stride for the home stretch.
But nobody got the memo in Saint Louis.
Anna Zatonskih jumped into clear first place with a win over Camilla Baginskaite in round 6. Image Credit Sarah Carmody.
By Brian Jerauld
SAINT LOUIS (May 15, 2014) -- The show, for the moment, has been stolen.
After the bloodiest day yet - eight fought-out decisions across 11 games and another nail-biting escape with a draw by reigning women’s champion Irina Krush - both U.S. Championship races have new frontrunners as the tournaments turn down the home stretch.
GM Varuzhan Akobian jumped into a tie for first place after his round 6 win at the U.S. Championship. Image Credit: Lennart Ootes.
By Brian Jerauld
SAINT LOUIS (May 14, 2014) -- Now the fists are flying - though nobody is coming out of the pile.
Despite a slow, draw-filled start, the U.S. Championship heated up as it passed its halfway point, with Tuesday’s sixth round featuring another day of bloodshed to shake up the standings. Aleksandr Lenderman, who had raced out to an early lead with three wins through the first four rounds, has now been slowed to a crawl with just a half point over the last two. Sam Shankland issued the frontrunner his first loss of the tournament on Tuesday, while Varuzhan Akobian (4/6) turned in his second quality win in a row to catch pace with Lenderman on top.
GM Irina Krush is in clear first at the U.S. Women's Championship, leading by a half point through four rounds. Image Credit: Lennart Ootes
By Brian Jerauld
SAINT LOUIS (May 13, 2014) -- While the U.S. chess king questioned who might bear his crown next, America’s queen began resizing hers.
Four-time champion Gata Kamsky walked through another uneventful draw on Monday afternoon - his fourth split in five rounds - while Varuzhan Akobian, Alejandro Ramirez and Daniel Naroditsky each gained traction in the standings by notching their first wins of the tournament. Afterward, nodding to the competitive 2014 field and expressing frustration with his current inability to win, Kamsky admitted: “Probably you’re going to see a new U.S. champion this year.”
In the U.S. Women’s competition, however, reigning champion Irina Krush reminded us: Probably not.
The reigning U.S. Champion, GM Gata Kamsky, scored his first victory in round 4. Image Credit Lennart Ootes.
By Brian Jerauld
Did someone just wake a sleeping bear?
Four-time U.S. Champion Gata Kamsky, seemingly idle with three ho-hum draws through the first three rounds, suddenly sprang to life on Sunday afternoon and made his mother proud. The reigning king rang the bell in the fourth round, waking up a 2014 U.S. Championship that had seen just four decisions across 18 games. Kamsky’s solid win with white over Sergey Erenberg set a rousing theme to Sunday, with four of the day’s six fighting games finishing with full points.
GM Aleksandr Lenderman finds himself atop the leaderboard after three rounds at the U.S. Championship. Image Credit: Lennart Ootes.
By Brian Jerauld
SAINT LOUIS (May 11, 2014) -- Full-point victories: A dime a dozen for the ladies; but hard to come by for the men.
After ten draws and only two wins since the tournament’s start, the U.S. Championship saw just two more wins in Saturday’s third round. Aleksandr Lenderman’s second victory of the competition set him alone out front with 2.5/3, and Timur Gareev trails with 2/3 after adding a win over Daniel Naroditsky to a pair of draws.
Irina Krush and Sabina Foisor each remained perfect after two rounds of play to lead the field. Image Credits: Lennart Ootes.
By Brian Jerauld
SAINT LOUIS (May 9, 2014) -- In the 1964 U.S. Chess Championship, a 20-year-old Bobby Fischer rolled over the nation in jaw-dropping fashion, showcasing his dominance over the field with a perfect 11-0 score. In 2014, that monumental record celebrates its 50th anniversary having never been repeated - though not without a lack of effort by Rex Sinquefield.
SAINT LOUIS (May 9, 2014) -- Lights! Camera! Quick-draw??
Eyes rolled on the first day of the 2014 U.S. Championship when the marquee matchup -- a fireworks-filled kickoff between top-seeds Timur Gareev and Gata Kamsky -- finished after 14 moves and only 40 minutes in a draw-by-repetition, starting a trend of half-points through an anti-climactic first round.
GM Irina Krush, the reigning U.S. Women's Champion, is interviewed by a local news crew.
By Brian Jerauld
Grandmasters Gata Kamsky and Irina Krush: Please return your crowns.
Time expired on both champions’ reign over the nation Wednesday night in St. Louis, with the opening ceremonies of the 2014 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship ringing the bell for a new round of challengers to the national title.
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