American Cup: Aronian and Robson reach Champions Bracket final

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
3/16/2024 – Levon Aronian and Ray Robson defeated Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So respectively to reach the final of the Champions Bracket in the open section of the American Cup. Meanwhile, the women’s tournament saw Irina Krush and Alice Lee getting clear wins to advance to the final in the Champions Bracket for a third year in a row. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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So loses on time

Only the participants who survived in the Champions Bracket played on Friday at the American Cup. In the open section, the semifinals were won by Levon Aronian and Ray Robson. Aronian beat Fabiano Caruana after drawing the four games ‘in regulation’ and grabbing back-to-back wins in the blitz tiebreakers. Robson, on his part, obtained a 3-1 victory over So in what turned out to be a very interesting match.

Caruana and So were thus knocked down to the Elimination Bracket. On Saturday, the fifth day of action in Saint Louis, Caruana is set to face Leinier Dominguez, while So will face Sam Sevian. In the Elimination Bracket, each match starts with four rapid games (15”+10’), which might be followed by blitz playoffs if needed.

In last year’s edition, Caruana was also defeated by Aronian — in the Elimination Bracket, in Armageddon.

American Chess Cup 2024

American Chess Cup 2024

Robson entered the second day of his match against So with a 1-point advantage. After drawing the classical game with white, Robson only needed a draw in rapid to win the match. The 29-year-old reached a rook and knight endgame which actually favoured Black (Robson). However, So found a tricky recourse that suddenly gave him hopes to get an unexpected win.

So v. Robson - Game #4

46.Ne6 invites Black to capture with the f-pawn, opening up the file, with the white pawn two squares away from promotion and the rook protecting it from behind. Robson found the correct reply in 46...Rh4+, but after 47.Kg2 erred by taking the bait with 47...fxe6

Robson could have kept his advantage with the forcing 47...Nd4, surely a difficult move to find with 15 seconds on the clock — though the simpler 47...g5 was also strong.

After the text, however, there followed 48.f7 Rf4 49.f8Q Rxf8 50.Rxf8 Kg7

The position is a tablebase draw, but So’s ability to create something out of nothing was certainly remarkable — and in a practical game White had realistic chances of converting the position into a win.

The encounter ended up lasting 76 moves, with So unexpectedly losing on time. The position continued to be drawn according to the tablebases, as Robson demonstrated great technical ability throughout.

Wesley So, Ray Robson

Wesley So and Ray Robson are excellent friends | Photo: Lennart Ootes

All games - Champions Bracket

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1.d4 7 d5 12 2.c4 5 e6 4 3.Nc3 8 a6 14 4.cxd5 30 exd5 5 5.Nf3 8 Nf6 12 6.Bg5 1:38 D37: Queen's Gambit Declined: 5 Bf4. Be6 14 7.e3 7 Nbd7 45 8.h3 17 Bd6 1:33 9.Bd3 13 c6 1:20 10.Bf4 1:44 Qc7 26 11.Bxd6 2:42 Qxd6 6 12.0-0 16 0-0 4:12 13.a4!?       An interesting side line. a5 8:17 14.Qb3 4:37 g6N 8:58 Predecessor: 14...Qb4 15.Qc2 h6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nd7 18.f4 d4 19.exd4 Qxd4+ 20.Kh1 Nc5 ½-½ Injac,T (2389)-Radeva,V (2289) EU-ch (Women) 22nd 2022 (5) 15.Ng5 5:26 15.Qxb7? Rfb8-+ 15...Rfe8 14:04 16.Rae1 9:54 16.Qxb7? Reb8-+ 16...Nf8 24:33 17.Qc2 5:12 17.Qxb7? Reb8-+ 17...Nh5 3:04 18.f4 6:39 f6 4:26 19.Nxe6 2:35 Rxe6 0 19...Nxe6= keeps the balance. 20.f5 gxf5 20.f5± gxf5 4:44 21.Rxf5 14:45 Ng7 0 22.Rf3 11 Rae8 0 23.Qf2 3:14 Ng6 22 24.g4 14:52 Nh8 6:43 25.h4 7:30 Nf7 4:34 26.g5 8:47 f5
27.Ne2! 4:40 27.Bxf5?! Nxf5 28.Rxf5 Qd7 27...Qd7 56 28.Nf4! 0 28.Bxf5? Nxf5 29.Rxf5 Rxe3-+ 28...R6e7 8
29.g6! 0 hxg6 48 29...Nd6± might work better. 30.Nxg6 Re6 1:44 31.Qg2 2:25 31.Bxf5? Nxf5 32.Qg2 Kh7-+ 32...Rxe3? 33.Rexe3 Nxe3 34.Rxe3+- 32...Nxe3? 33.Rfxe3 Rxe3 34.Rxe3+- 31...Nd6 4:01 31...Nh6± 32.Ne5 Rxe5 33.dxe5 Rxe5 32.Ne5+- 2:29 Qe7 0 33.Bxf5 1:17 Ndxf5? 1:27 33...Rf6 34.Rxf5+- 4 Qxh4 10 35.Ref1 15 Qe4 4:26 36.Qg5 31 Weaker is 36.Qxe4 dxe4 37.Rg5 Rf8+- 36...Rh6 2:27 37.Qxh6 1:06 Nxf5 12 38.Qg5+ 3 Ng7 0 39.Ng4 2:33 Re6 14 40.Nf6+ 46 Rxf6 6 41.Rxf6 6 Qb1+ 1:06 42.Rf1 1:54 Qxb2 4 43.Qe7 55 Qe2 2 43...Kh7 44.Kh1 Qe2 44.Rf8++- And not 44.Qxb7 Qxe3+ 45.Rf2 Qg5+ 46.Kf1 Qc1+ 47.Kg2 Qg5+ 48.Kf3 Qf5+ 49.Ke3 Qe4+ 50.Kd2 Qxd4+ 51.Ke1 Qe3+ 52.Re2 Qc1+ 53.Kf2 Qf4+ 54.Ke1 Qc1+ 55.Kf2 Qf4+ 56.Kg1 Qg3+ 57.Kf1 Qh3+ 58.Ke1 Qh4+ 59.Rf2 Qe4+ 60.Re2 Qh4+ 61.Rf2 Qe4+ 62.Re2 Qh4+= 44...Kh7 56 45.Qh4+ 1:00 Stronger than 45.Qxb7 Qxe3+ 46.Rf2 Qc1+ 47.Kg2 Qg5+ 48.Kf1 Qc1+ 49.Kg2 Qg5+ 50.Kf3 Qf5+ 51.Ke3 Qe4+ 52.Kd2 Qxd4+ 53.Ke1 Qe4+ 54.Kd1 Qd4+ 55.Rd2 Qxa4+ 56.Rc2 Kg8= 45...Nh5 30 46.Rf2 0 Qd1+ 1:07 47.Kh2 1:09 Kg6 0 48.Qh3 0
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2804Oparin,G26711–02024D37American Cup Open Champions 20241.1
So,W2757Shankland,S2674½–½2024A65American Cup Open Champions 20241.1
Dominguez Perez,L2749Robson,R26961–02024B90American Cup Open Champions 20241.1
Aronian,L2722Sevian,S2697½–½2024A20American Cup Open Champions 20241.1
Sevian,S2697Aronian,L2722½–½2024D85American Cup Open Champions 20241.2
Robson,R2696Dominguez Perez,L27491–02024E53American Cup Open Champions 20241.2
Shankland,S2674So,W27570–12024C67American Cup Open Champions 20241.2
Oparin,G2671Caruana,F28040–12024D02American Cup Open Champions 20241.2
Sevian,S2697Aronian,L2722½–½2024C54American Cup Open Champions 20241.3
Robson,R2696Dominguez Perez,L27491–02024E48American Cup Open Champions 20241.3
Shankland,S2674So,W27570–12024D31American Cup Open Champions 20241.3
Oparin,G2671Caruana,F2804½–½2024D16American Cup Open Champions 20241.3
Dominguez Perez,L2749Robson,R2696½–½2024B90American Cup Open Champions 20241.4
Aronian,L2722Sevian,S2697½–½2024E04American Cup Open Champions 20241.4
Aronian,L2722Sevian,S26971–02024C13American Cup Open Champions 20241.5
Sevian,S2697Aronian,L2722½–½2024C43American Cup Open Champions 20241.6
Caruana,F2804Aronian,L2722½–½2024D86American Cup Open Champions 20242.1
So,W2757Robson,R2696½–½2024B90American Cup Open Champions 20242.1
Aronian,L2722Caruana,F2804½–½2024C68American Cup Open Champions 20242.2
Robson,R2696So,W27571–02024D31American Cup Open Champions 20242.2
Aronian,L2722Caruana,F2804½–½2024C00American Cup Open Champions 20242.3
Robson,R2696So,W2757½–½2024E48American Cup Open Champions 20242.3
Caruana,F2804Aronian,L2722½–½2024D90American Cup Open Champions 20242.4
So,W2757Robson,R26960–12024B50American Cup Open Champions 20242.4
Caruana,F2804Aronian,L27220–12024C54American Cup Open Champions 20242.5
Aronian,L2722Caruana,F28041–02024B51American Cup Open Champions 20242.6
Aronian,L2722Robson,R26961–02024B90American Cup Open Champions 20243.1
Robson,R2696Aronian,L27220–12024D86American Cup Open Champions 20243.2
Robson,R2696Aronian,L2722½–½2024E48American Cup Open Champions 20243.3
So,W2757Aronian,L2722½–½2024C67American Cup Open Champions 20244.1
Aronian,L2722So,W2757½–½2024B50American Cup Open Champions 20244.2
Aronian,L2722So,W2757½–½2024C54American Cup Open Champions 20244.3
So,W2757Aronian,L27220–12024E32American Cup Open Champions 20244.4

Women’s: Krush and Lee in yet another final

This is the third edition of the American Cup, and for a third year in a row Irina Krush and Alice Lee reached the final of the Champions Bracket in the women’s section. Both in 2022 and 2023, Krush won the final of the ‘upper bracket’, Lee bounced back by winning the ‘lower bracket’ and Krush won the rematch to grab back-to-back titles.

Both finalists entered the second day of their confrontations with a 2-point lead. Lee grabbed a third win over Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova to end the match at once, while Krush lost her classical encounter against Nazi Paikidze before securing match victory with a win in the rapid.

In the Elimination Bracket, Tokhirjonova is set to face Zoey Tang on Saturday while Paikidze faces Jennifer Yu.

American Chess Cup 2024

American Chess Cup 2024

Facing Tokhirjonova’s risky setup — she was in a must-win situation — Lee quickly got an edge with the white pieces. It did not take long before Black’s position collapsed, and it was all fun for the 14-year-old prodigy once every tactical idea in the position seemed to work for her.

Lee v. Tokhirjonova - Game #3

White is already two pawns up and has a strong central passer on the d-file, but 32.Qxe6 is a deadly shot that resolves matters quickly. There followed 32...Qxc4 33.Nf6+, and Tokhirjonova threw in the towel.

33...Kg7 loses the queen, as the bishop would be pinned by the rook, while 33...Kh8 also gives way to 34.Qxc4, since 34...Bxc4 would allow 35.Rxh7#. Brilliant!

Alice Lee

Alice Lee | Photo: Lennart Ootes

All games - Champions Bracket

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1.c4 4 e5 2 2.g3 17 Nc6 4:36 3.Bg2 11 g6 1:59 4.Nc3 58 Bg7 33 5.Rb1 4:11 a5 1:23 6.e3 2:12 Nge7 2:01 7.d3 3:52 d6 4:34 8.Nge2 2:30 Be6 3:54 9.Nd5 24 0-0 1:43 10.0-0 28 Nb4 6:51 11.Nxe7+ 9:02 Qxe7 5 12.a3 11 Nc6 1:08       Die Stellung ist ausgeglichen. 13.Nc3 1:38 Qd7 4:17 14.Re1 4:42 f5 2:55 15.Nd5 4:37 a4 3:26 16.Nc3 4:09 e4 4:03 17.Nxa4 7:56 17.dxe4= bleibt in der Remisbreite. Bxc4 18.f4 17...Ne5 3:46 Schwarz hat aktiveres Spiel. Die weißen Türme stehen passiv. 18.b3 7:02 18.d4 18...Nxd3-+ 56 18...exd3 19.Nb2 19.Re2 9 Weiss hat schwache schwarze Felder b5 8:36 20.Nb2 2 bxc4 1:34 Schlechter ist 20...Rxa3 21.Nxd3 exd3 22.Re1= 21.bxc4 1:03 Rxa3 8:54 21...Rfb8 22.Qc2 Nxc1 22...Rxa3? 23.Nxd3 Rxb1 24.Qxb1-+ 23.Qxc1 Rxa3 22.Nxd3 5:27 Rxd3 15 23.Qe1 21 Bxc4 4:06 24.Bf1 1:21 Rc3 7:08 25.Reb2 49 25.Bb2 Rb3 26.Bxg7 Rxb1 26...Qxg7 27.Ra2 27.Qxb1 Kxg7 28.Rc2 25...Bxf1 31 26.Qxf1 3:47 Rd3 3:42 27.Rd2 39 Rxd2 1:27 28.Bxd2 2 d5 26 Verhindert Qc4 Vorzuziehen ist 28...c5-+ 29.Bc3 Bxc3 30.Qc4+ d5 31.Qxc3 Rc8 29.Qc1 5:19 29.Qa6 kämpft weiter. 29...f4 11:32 30.exf4 6:20 d4 14 30...c6 31.h4 d4 31.Rb7 6:47 Rc8 1:19 32.Qc4+ 7 32.Qc2 sieht stärker aus. 32...Kh8 1:12 33.Kg2 10:21 h5 2:05 34.h3 2:07 Es drohte Qg4 Qd6 2:34 Günstiger ist 34...Qe8 ...e3 ist eine echte Drohung. 35.Kh2 Kh7 35.Ba5? 38 35.Ra7= und Weiss ist OK. 35...e3 2:47 35...Qa3-+ ist viel giftiger. 36.Rxc7 Rxc7 37.Qxc7 Qf3+ 38.Kg1 e3 36.Rxc7 4:26 Rxc7 9 37.Bxc7 14       Endspiel. KQB-KQB Qe7 29 37...Qd7! Und jetzt ...d3 wäre schön. 38.fxe3 d3 38...dxe3? 39.Ba5-+ 38.fxe3 1:56
38...Qe4+! 1:34 39.Kh2 2:10 Qxe3 8 Schwarz bringt die Sache ungefährdet zu Ende. 40.Qa2 1:11       Es drohte Qf2+ 40.Be5 war die entscheidende Verteidigung. 40...d3-+ 28 ( -> ...Bd4) 41.Ba5 2
41...h4! 44       42.Qg2 50 Kh7 51 42...Bd4 ...Bc5 wäre nun fies. 43.Bb4 g5 44.Qa8+ Kh7 45.Qb7+ Bg7 43.Bd2? 54 43.Qg1-+ Bd4 44.Qg2 43...hxg3+ 5 44.Kh1 1 Qf2 49 45.Qxf2 29 gxf2 2 KB-KB 46.Kg2 10
46...Bd4! 4 47.Kf1 1:23 Schwarz setzt Matt. Kg7 31 48.f5 28 gxf5 23 49.Kg2 31 Kg6 19 50.Bf4 19 Kf6 1:10 51.Kf1 36 Ke6 1:07 52.h4 21 Kd5 10 53.h5 38 Kc4 20 54.h6 35 Kc3 15 55.h7 31 d2 15 Gewichteter Fehlerwert: Weiß=0.52/Schwarz=0.24 (präzise) . Verlustzug: Weiß=2 --- Fehler: Weiß=6 Schwarz=7 Ungenau: Weiß=3 --- OK: Weiß=9 Schwarz=13 Bester: Weiß=3 Schwarz=4 Stark: --- Schwarz=1
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Krush,I2421Tang,Z22530–12024A25American Cup Women Champions 20241.1
Tokhirjonova,G2365Yu,J22791–02024D26American Cup Women Champions 20241.1
Lee,A2356Abrahamyan,T23081–02024E04American Cup Women Champions 20241.1
Zatonskih,A2348Paikidze,N23190–12024E80American Cup Women Champions 20241.1
Paikidze,N2319Zatonskih,A23481–02024E07American Cup Women Champions 20241.2
Abrahamyan,T2308Lee,A23560–12024C43American Cup Women Champions 20241.2
Yu,J2279Tokhirjonova,G23650–12024D45American Cup Women Champions 20241.2
Tang,Z2253Krush,I24210–12024E71American Cup Women Champions 20241.2
Paikidze,N2319Zatonskih,A2348½–½2024E06American Cup Women Champions 20241.3
Abrahamyan,T2308Lee,A2356½–½2024C43American Cup Women Champions 20241.3
Yu,J2279Tokhirjonova,G2365½–½2024D45American Cup Women Champions 20241.3
Tang,Z2253Krush,I24210–12024E11American Cup Women Champions 20241.3
Krush,I2421Tang,Z22531–02024A57American Cup Women Champions 20241.4
Krush,I2421Paikidze,N23191–02024E49American Cup Women Champions 20242.1
Tokhirjonova,G2365Lee,A23560–12024A14American Cup Women Champions 20242.1
Lee,A2356Tokhirjonova,G23651–02024E04American Cup Women Champions 20242.2
Paikidze,N2319Krush,I24210–12024A46American Cup Women Champions 20242.2
Lee,A2356Tokhirjonova,G23651–02024E12American Cup Women Champions 20242.3
Paikidze,N2319Krush,I24211–02024B26American Cup Women Champions 20242.3
Krush,I2421Paikidze,N23191–02024E91American Cup Women Champions 20242.4
Krush,I2421Lee,A23561–02024C00American Cup Women Champions 20243.1
Lee,A2356Krush,I2421½–½2024E11American Cup Women Champions 20243.2
Lee,A2356Krush,I24210–12024E11American Cup Women Champions 20243.3
Krush,I2421Lee,A2356½–½2024E24American Cup Women Champions 20244.1
Lee,A2356Krush,I24211–02024E11American Cup Women Champions 20244.2
Lee,A2356Krush,I24211–02024A56American Cup Women Champions 20244.3
Krush,I2421Lee,A23561–02024D60American Cup Women Champions 20245.1
Lee,A2356Krush,I24211–02024E11American Cup Women Champions 20245.2
Lee,A2356Krush,I24210–12024E11American Cup Women Champions 20245.3
Krush,I2421Lee,A23560–12024E24American Cup Women Champions 20245.4
Krush,I2421Lee,A23560–12024D58American Cup Women Champions 20245.5
Lee,A2356Krush,I24211–02024E93American Cup Women Champions 20245.6

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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