Saint Louis to Host Exciting Double-Elimination Tournament, Offering $400,000 in Prizes to Elite Competitors
SAINT LOUIS, February 15, 2024 - The Saint Louis Chess Club is excited to announce the return of the American Cup, one of the nation's premier chess tournaments, to Saint Louis. Now in its third year, the event will run from March 12-21, 2024, at the iconic World Chess Hall of Fame, featuring sixteen of America's top chess talents.
The American Cup includes some of the best American players, including world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. Caruana is set to compete in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, eyeing the coveted position of the world champion challenger. The tournament also shines a spotlight on GM Irina Krush, a distinguished figure in American chess with eight U.S. Women's Championship titles and two American Cup victories to her name.
With $400,000 in prize money up for grabs - an increase from 2023, the competitors will prove their mettle under mounting pressure in the double-elimination knockout format. This exciting structure ensures that players have a second chance for victory, promising high-stakes drama and thrilling matchups for chess fans worldwide.
“We’re proud to showcase some of the top American chess talent once again in this year’s American Cup,” said Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. "With a field that includes some of the strongest male and female competitors, we're expecting an electrifying series of games right up to the very last move."
The tournament format divides the sixteen participants into two brackets of eight players each, who will face off in a series of knockout matches. Players will contest 4-game matches, including two classical and two rapid games. Winners will progress within the Championship Bracket, while those facing defeat will have another opportunity for glory in the Elimination Bracket, where all the play is rapid, and a second loss results in elimination.
OPEN FIELD
| Title | Name | Location | Current FIDE Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM | Fabiano Caruana | Saint Louis, MO | 2804 |
| GM | Wesley So | Excelsior, MN | 2757 |
| GM | Leinier Dominguez | Saint Louis, MO | 2752 |
| GM | Levon Aronian | Saint Louis, MO | 2725 |
| GM | Sam Sevian | Holden, MA | 2697 |
| GM | Ray Robson | Saint Louis, MO | 2696 |
| GM | Sam Shankland | Orinda, CA | 2674 |
| GM | Grigoriy Oparin | Columbia, MO | 2671 |
WOMEN’S FIELD
| Title | Name | Location | Current FIDE Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM | Irina Krush | Brooklyn, NY | 2421 |
| IM | Alice Lee | North Oaks, MN | 2379 |
| WGM | Begim Tokhirjonova | Saint Louis, MO | 2365 |
| WGM | Anna Zatonskih | Bochum, Germany | 2347 |
| IM | Nazi Paikidze | Las Vegas, NV | 2319 |
| WGM | Tatev Abrahamyan | Saint Louis, MO | 2306 |
| FM | Jennifer Yu | Ashburn, VA | 2279 |
| WGM | Zoey Tang | Portland, OR | 2253 |
The rounds will be streamed live daily on uschesschamps.com with expert commentary featuring Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan and Cristian Chirila, along with Woman Grandmaster Anastasiya Karlovich.
Visit uschesschamps.com for more information.
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 saintlouischessclub.org.
