2023 U.S. Chess Champions: Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana Defends Title to Become Three-Time U.S. Champion; International Master Carissa Yip Wins Second Title in Women’s Division

SAINT LOUIS (October 19, 2023) – Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana and International Master Carissa Yip took top honors out of a field of elite American chess players in the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship and 2023 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, respectively. 

Hosted in America’s chess capital by the Saint Louis Chess Club at the World Chess Hall of Fame October 5 – 18, 2023, the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship events featured 24 of the top chess players who competed for a purse of more than $400,000.

“This year’s U.S. Championships were among some of the most exciting we’ve hosted at the Saint Louis Chess Club with incredible matches and dramatic finishes from the best chess players from across the country,” Tony Rich, Executive Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “This year’s tournaments also mark the 15th anniversary of the formation of the Saint Louis Chess Club and as the host of these top-tier national competitions. Saint Louis, often referred to as the Chess Capital of America, has been the backdrop for countless memorable moments in the world of chess, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with the players that continue to make the United States one of the most competitive countries in the world of chess.”

In impressive fashion, Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana claimed the 2023 U.S. Chess Championship and a $60,000 prize, marking his third national title, while Grandmasters Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez and Abhimanyu Mishra shared a three-way tie for second place, each earning $35,000.

“It’s always special for me to win the U.S. Chess Championship. It’s very important to me because of how strong of a tournament it is,” said Caruana. “It’s harder to get a win in chess these days because of how hard the competition is. It’s really huge for me to be able to win here because wins don’t come easy.”

Final tournament results:

In the Women’s division, 19-year old International Master Carissa Yip became the 2023 U.S. Women’s Champion after a dramatic final round, taking home her second championship title and earning $40,000. Woman Grandmaster Begim Tohkirjonova earned the second place title and a prize of $30,000.

“When I got to the board for the last match, I really wanted to win. I’ve been playing chess non-stop for the past month and hoped we wouldn’t have to go to a play-off. Luckily things worked out,” said Yip.

Final tournament results:

Replays and full tournament recaps about the 2023 U.S. Championships are available at www.uschesschamps.com or on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube channel. 

Also held in conjunction with the 2023 U.S. Championships, GM Yury Shulman, chess problemist William Shinkman and women’s chess pioneer Lisa Lane were inducted into the 2023 U.S. Chess Hall of Fame for their incredible contributions to the sport of chess.

For more information, visit saintlouischessclub.org, uschesschamps.com or worldchesshof.org.

About the Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures. 

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

About the World Chess Hall of Fame

The World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building awareness of the cultural and artistic significance of chess. It opened on September 9, 2011, in the Central West End after moving from previous locations in New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami. Housed in a historic 15,900 square-foot residence-turned-business in Saint Louis’ Central West End neighborhood, the WCHOF features World Chess Hall of Fame inductees, United States Chess Hall of Fame inductees selected by the U.S. Chess Trust, artifacts from the permanent collection and exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games and rich cultural history of chess. The WCHOF partners with the Saint Louis Chess Club to provide innovative programming and outreach to local, national and international audiences. For more information, visit worldchesshof.org and on social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channels.