Clear first with a stellar 8.0/9
This year, the U.S. Open was held in Norfolk, Virginia, home of the largest naval base in the world. With stunning river views, no one could deny that it was a beautiful environment to hold the tournament.

The river view is beautiful at all hours of the day
For the past two years, GM Alexander Shabalov qualified for the United States Chess Championship by winning the U.S. Open, a unique one section tournament with class prizes that takes place in conjunction with U.S. Chess Federation meetings and FIDE seminars.

Multi-time U.S. Open winner, and former U.S. Champion Alex Shabalov | Photo: Vanessa Sun
One grandmaster decided that it was time to end Shabalov’s reign and followed through accordingly. Aleksandr Lenderman placed an impressive clear first above 15 other grandmasters, his best result after playing in the Open 7 times. With this tournament victory, Lenderman qualifies to the 2018 U.S. Championship, where he last competed in 2016.
When the dust settled in Norfolk, GM Lenderman was the sole player to score 8/9 points. He finished ahead of players such as GMs Illya Nyzhnyk, Sergei Azarov, and Joel Benjamin. One of Lenderman’s most exciting games was his win against Shabalov:
1.e4 | 1,184,215 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 958,932 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 286,327 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 184,722 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,884 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,598 | 54% | 2428 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,953 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,906 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,790 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,250 | 54% | 2406 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,081 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 969 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 670 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 466 | 54% | 2382 | --- |
1.c3 | 439 | 51% | 2425 | --- |
1.h3 | 289 | 56% | 2420 | --- |
1.a4 | 118 | 60% | 2461 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 47 | 62% | 2476 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.c4 g6 2.g3!? Bg7 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.0-0 Ne7 6.d4 0-0 7.Qc2 b6 8.Rd1 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Nc3 Bf5 8...Bb7 9.cxd5 exd5 10.b3 a5 11.Nc3 Na6 12.Bb2 Nb4 13.Qd2 Nf5 14.a3 14.Rac1 Ba6 15.Ne5 15.g4!? 15...Bh6 15...c5 16.Nxd5! Nxd5 17.dxc5+- 16.f4 16.e3 f6? 17.Nc6 16...Bb7 17.a3 Na6 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.e4 Bxb3 20.exf5± 14...Na6 15.Qc2 Re8 16.e3 Qe7 17.Rac1 Rad8 18.Ne2 18.Ne5 c5 18.Bh3! Nd6 19.Ne5 c5 19...f6 20.Nd3 20.dxc5 18...c5 19.Nf4 c4? 19...cxd4 20.exd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 21.exd4 Bh6 21...Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Qxa3 23.Qd1 Rc8= 20...Bh6! 20.Ne5 20.bxc4 dxc4 21.d5 c3 22.Bxc3 Rc8 23.Qb2 20...b5 20...f6 21.Nexg6 hxg6 22.Nxg6 Qd7 23.bxc4 21.bxc4 bxc4 21...dxc4 22.Nc6 Bxc6 23.Bxc6 22.Bc3 22.Qa4 Bxe5 23.dxe5 Nc5 22...Qxa3 23.Nxc4 23.Ra1 Qe7 23...Qd6 24.Rxa5 Nc7 25.Rb1± 24.Rxa5 Bxe5 25.dxe5 Nc7 26.Ra7+- 23...dxc4 24.Bxb7 Nb4 25.Bxb4 25.Qd2 Na2 26.Ra1 Qxc3 27.Rxa2± 25...axb4 26.Qxc4 26.Ra1 Nxe3! 27.fxe3 Qxe3+ 28.Kg2 Rxd4= 26...Nd6 27.Qa6 Nxb7 28.Qxb7 Rb8 29.Qd5 29.Qc6 b3 29...Red8 30.Qe4 b3 31.Ra1 Qd6 31...Qb2 32.Rab1 Rb5 33.Rb2 Bf8 34.Rdb1 Qb6 35.Qd3 Rb8 36.Ra1 Qb7 37.Ne2 h5 38.h4 Bd6?! 38...g5 39.Nc3 38...Rb6 38...Qf3± 39.Nc3 Rb6 40.Ne4 Qe7 41.Rab1 Bc7 41...Ba3 42.Rxb3 Rxb3 43.Rxb3 Rxb3 44.Qxb3 Qxe4 45.Qxa3+- Qb1+ 45...g5 46.Qc5+- 46.Kh2 Qc2 47.Qa8+ Kg7 48.Qf3 42.Ng5 Qb4 42...Qa3 43.Qc4 43.Rxb3 1–0
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Lenderman,A | - | Shabalov,A | - | 1–0 | 2017 | A13 | US Open | 8 |
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Essentially, the English Opening usually leads to reversed positions in which the first player enjoys the extra tempo. Then why not meet this 1.c4 move with 1…e5 and play the reversed Sicilian? In this 60 Minutes video, you will find a complete repertoire for Black based on the move 1…e5 against White’s most popular approach - the Reversed Dragon setup. Bulgarian GM Dejan Bojkov uses very recent top GM games to highlight the trends in the line and to explain the ideas behind Black’s development.
Shabalov could not hope to regain his title after this eighth round loss, but his last round win meant he still tied for third.
Lenderman’s strong finish was crucial to his success, emerging from a group of players whose last few rounds results were subpar. One favorite to win the tournament was GM Yaro Zherebukh. He was the top seed in the tournament and competed in this past U.S. Championship as the wildcard, placing sixth with an impressive win over GM Fabiano Caruana.

Zherebukh accepted an award on behalf of the SLU Chess Team for their third place finish at the President’s Cup/Final Four Collegiate Championship | Photo: Vanessa Sun
At first, Zherebukh was one of the leaders in the traditional nine-day schedule, with 5 points going into Round 6. As the highest rated highest rated player he tended to receive more challenging pairings than his rivals, often playing grandmasters while others played lower titled masters. This eventually took its toll, and by the time the weaker four-day schedule merged with the six and nine-round groups, he had lost his lead. [In U.S. open tournaments it's common to have multiple playing schedules for the early rounds -Ed.]
Zherebukh yielded too many draws and eventually decided to withdraw from the tournament following a loss against GM Sergey Erenburg. He may still qualify to the U.S. Championship by rating and will try to make up the deficit at the U.S. Masters tournament, which starts August 23rd.
Another favorite to win the U.S. Open was grandmaster Ruifeng Li who took the lead when the multiple playing schedule's merged. Going into the eighth round with 6½/7, he was pursued by GMs Shabalov, Dmitry Gordievsky and a few others on 6.0/7.

Ruifeng Li vs. Alex Lenderman | Photo: Vanessa Sun
Li needed a last round win in order to at least tie for first in the tournament, however Lenderman destroyed that dream, just like he did Shabalov’s!
Ruifeng was outplayed by GM Alex Lenderman in the last round, guaranteeing Lenderman at least a tie for first, which eventually became clear first, as the remaining players with 7/8 came up short.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 3.Nf3!? 3...d5!? 3...Nf6 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.Na3 Na5 5...a6 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.f4 5.Nf3 f6 5...Qe7 5...f6 6.Nh3!? 6.fxe5?! fxe5 7.Bxe5? 7.Nf3 Nh6! 7...Qh4+! 8.g3 Qe4 9.Bxg7 Qxh1 10.Qh5+ Ke7 11.Qh4+ Kf7 12.Bxh8 Qxg1+-+ 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qh4 exf4 8.exf4 Kf7 8...Qe7+ 6...Nh6 7.Qh5+ Nf7 8.Nc3 8.fxe5 fxe5 9.0-0 g6 9...0-0?! 10.Rxf7 Rxf7 11.Ng5 g6 12.Nxf7 gxh5 13.Nxd8 Nxd8 14.Nc3 10.Qf3 0-0! 11.Qxd5 Nb4 12.Qe4 Bxh3! 13.gxh3 Ng5! 8...a6 9.Be2 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 9...Be7 10.fxe5?! 10.Qf3= 10.0-0-0 10...fxe5 11.0-0 g6! 11...Be6 12.Bg4! g6 12...Qd6? 13.Ba3 12...Qd7? 13.Qxf7++- 13.Bxe6 gxh5 14.Bxf7+ Kd7 15.Nxd5 15.Bxd5 12.Qf3 Be6 13.e4 Nd4 14.Qd3 Nxe2+ 14...c6 15.Nf4 Bd7 16.Nfxd5 cxd5 17.Nxd5 15.Nxe2 15.Qxe2 d4 16.Nd5!? Bxd5 17.exd5 Qxd5 18.Rae1 15...d4 16.c3 c5 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.Nhf4! exf4?! 18...Qd7 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Nxf4 Qd7 19...Qb6 20.Bxd4 Bc5 21.Nxe6 Bxd4+ 22.Qxd4! 22.Nxd4? Rd8-+ 22...Qxe6 23.Rf6! Qe7 24.Rxf7! Kxf7 25.Rf1+ Kg8 26.Qd5+ Kg7 27.Qd4+ Kh6 28.Rf3 19...Bd7 20.Nd5 20.Qxd4 Rg8?! 20...Qxd4+ 21.Bxd4 Bg4 22.Bxh8 Nxh8 23.Nd5 20...Rf8 21.Qg7 0-0-0 21.Qb6?! 21.Nd5 Bxd5?! 21...Rc8 22.Nf6+ 22.Qe3 22...Bxf6 23.Qxf6 22.exd5 Rd8? 23.Rae1 21.Qe3 21...Nd8 22.Rac1?! 22.Nd5 22...Qd6 23.Qe3 Rf8 23...Bg5? 24.Rc5 24.e5 Qd7 25.d4 25.Qb6 Rc8 26.Rxc8 Qxc8 27.Rc1 Qd7 28.Rc7 Qxd2 25...Bg5 26.Ba3 Rf5 27.Qe4 Qf7-+ 28.g3 28.Nxe6 Bxc1-+ 29.Rxf5 gxf5 28...Bxf4 29.Rxf4 Rxf4 30.Qxf4 Qxf4 31.gxf4 Rc8 32.Kf2 32.Rxc8 Bxc8 33.d5 Bf5-+ 32...Rxc1 33.Bxc1 Nc6 34.Ke3 Kd7 35.Ba3 Bd5 36.Bd6 Ke6 37.Kd3 Kf5 38.Kc3 Ke4 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Li,R | - | Lenderman,A | - | 0–1 | 2017 | A01 | US Open | 9 |
Please, wait...
Expect to see Lenderman continue his fighting spirit next year's U.S. Championship. Despite experience as a professional player, in recent years, it has been hard to surive playing alone. Last year, Alex had the opportunity to coach the U.S. Olympiad team, which won gold in Baku. He discussed this at length along with many other topics on Ben Johnson's excellent Perpetual Chess Podcast last February:
Lenderman also does plenty of lecturing and game review sessions at Continental Chess Association tournaments. Just a few months ago, he considered abandoning his professional playing to focus on coaching full time. With this recent qualification, though, he says he's had a change of heart.
“Now it’s my responsibility to prepare as hard as I can for the U.S. Championship and try to do the best I can there… I enjoy teaching these days more than playing so… in the long run I might still steadily switch into chess teaching. But I won’t actively pursue that yet.”
For now, GM Lenderman is no doubt happy and celebrating his big tournament win and qualification, but still looking forward to progress and continuing hard work, as he prepares to stack as many strong tournaments as possible over the next few months, including the FIDE World Cup and Isle of Man tournament.
Lastly, the U.S. Open is more than just a single tournament. It's a place where important figures in American chess gather and do business. One legend of the past made an rare appearance:
Grandmaster William "Father Bill" Lombardy was one of Bobby Fischer's seconds in his 1972 World Championship match in Reykjavik, and a former World Junior Champion. He has more recently fallen on hard times.
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