Starting Friday: The American Cup returns

by ChessBase
3/14/2023 – America’s best chess players will return to the Saint Louis Chess Club to battle over the board from March 17- 26, 2023 for the second annual American Cup. With $300,000 in prize money up for grabs, the competitors will prove their mettle under mounting pressure in this double-elimination knockout tournament. Unlike in the inaugural edition last year, Hikaru Nakamura will be among the participants this time around. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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Nakamura joins the fun

Press release by the Saint Louis Chess Club

America’s best chess players will return to the Saint Louis Chess Club to battle over the board from March 17- 26, 2023 for the second annual American Cup. With $300,000 in prize money up for grabs, the competitors will prove their mettle under mounting pressure in this double-elimination knockout tournament. This format promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats as they follow their favourites to victory. 

“We are thrilled to once again welcome America’s best chess players to the Saint Louis Chess Club in Chess Capital USA,” said Tony Rich, Executive Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “This year’s event will be a fast-paced tournament that’s sure to keep fans entertained until the very last round.” 

The format will have two brackets composed of eight players each. The eight player field will compete against each other in knockout style. The double elimination format ensures a second shot at the top for any player who loses a match. 

Players will be seeded into The American Cup by rating, and the initial round will pair 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. Players will play a 2-game classical match followed by rapid tiebreaks if needed. The winners advance in the Championship Bracket, while those who lose their match continue with rapid chess in the Elimination Bracket. Anyone who loses their match in the Elimination Bracket is then eliminated from the tournament. 

American Chess Cup 2022

Time controls

  • The classical time control will be game in 90 minutes plus 30-second increments from move one (G/90+30).
  • The rapid time control will be game in 25 minutes plus 10-second increments from move one (G/25+10).
  • The playoff time control will be game in 10 minutes plus 5-second increments from move one (G/10+5).
  • All standard games in the Championship bracket will be played at classical time controls.
  • All standard games in the Elimination bracket will be played at rapid time controls.

Open field

Title

First name

Last name

FIDE rating

GM

Hikaru

Nakamura

2768 

GM

Fabiano

Caruana

2766

GM

Wesley

So

2760

GM

Leinier

Dominguez

2743

GM

Levon

Aronian

2735

GM

Sam

Shankland

2710

GM

Ray

Robson

2702

GM

Jeffery

Xiong

2692

Women’s field

Title

First name

Last name

FIDE rating

GM

Irina

Krush

2432

IM

Anna

Zatonskih

2348

WGM

Begim

Tokhirjonova

2328

WGM

Katerina

Nemcova

2325

IM

Nazi

Paikidze

2314

WGM

Atousa

Pourkashiyan

2313

FM

Alice

Lee

2300

WGM

Tatev

Abrahamyan

2294

In addition to the main event, the Saint Louis Chess Club will host The American Cup Blitz on Sunday, March 26, a side event featuring eliminated players and titled players. 

The rounds will be streamed live daily from March 17 - 26 at 1:00 pm CT on uschesschamps.com with expert commentary featuring Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan and Cristian Chirila along with International Master Jovanka Houska.


About The Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization 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.


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