American Cup: All matches in the open go to tiebreaks

by André Schulz
3/17/2025 – The American Cup's brackets are taking shape after two days of classical games ended in draws, leading to decisive playoffs. Hikaru Nakamura, Leinier Dominguez, Levon Aronian and Fabiano Caruana advanced in the Champions Bracket, while their opponents moved to the Elimination Bracket. In the women's event, Alice Lee, Irina Krush, Carissa Yip and Tatev Abrahamyan (pictured) secured victories to progress. | Photo: Crystal Fuller

ChessBase 18 - Mega package ChessBase 18 - Mega package

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

More...

On to the semifinals

In the open tournament of the American Cup, all classical games ended in a draw on the first day of action, and this was also the case on the second day. Four playoffs followed, from which Hikaru Nakamura (against Abhimanyu Mishra), Leinier Dominguez (against Wesley So), Levon Aronian (against Wesley So) and (Fabiano Caruana) against Ray Robson emerged victorious.

The winners continue in the Champions Bracket, with the pairings Nakamura v. Dominguez and Aronian v. Caruana. The losers of the first knockout stage will play rapid chess games in Elimination Bracket, also played as a knockout. The winner of the Elimination Bracket will then play the winner of the Champions Bracket in the grand final.

In the women's tournament, Alice Lee (against Nazi Paikidze), Irina Krush (against Atousha Pourkashiyan) and Carissa Yip (against Thalia Cervantes) took the lead on the first day and defended it with wins or draws on the second day. Anna Zatonskih and Tatev Abrahamyan drew on the first day, and it was Abrahamyan who prevailed on the second day

In this event, the Champions Bracket continues with the matches Yip v. Abrahamyan and Krush v. Lee.

American Chess Cup 2025

American Chess Cup 2025

American Chess Cup 2025

American Chess Cup 2025

All games - Open (champions bracket)

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 7 Nf6 20 2.c4 16 e6 21 3.Nf3 36 d5 4.g3 42 Be7 31 5.Bg2 1:26 0-0 19 6.0-0 24 dxc4 51 7.Qc2 30 a6 58 8.a4 31 Bd7 12 9.Qxc4 0 Bc6 17 10.Bf4 2:50 Bd6 3:15 E05: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3 Be7. 11.Nc3 9:41 Bxf4 1:21 12.gxf4 19 a5 8:37 13.e3 14 Na6 4:30       14.Kh1 0 Nb4 1:42 15.Qe2 7:34 Qe7!?N 16:49       New and interesting. Predecessor: 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 c6 17.Rg1 Qe7 18.Rg5 Kh8 19.Rag1 g6 20.Qc2 Nxc2 0-1 Aronian,L (2773)-Nakamura,H (2736) Saint Louis Blitz 2020 (7) 16.Nb5 10:35 Bxf3 0 16...Ng4 with more complications. 17.Ng5 Bxg2+ 18.Kxg2 Nh6 17.Bxf3 0 c6 0 18.Na3 1:31 Ne8 3:19 19.Nc2 6:42 Nxc2 5:57 20.Qxc2 11 f5 4:21 21.Qb3 3:02 Nf6 2:17 22.Rac1 43 Nd5 1:57 23.Rg1 4:04 Rf7 1:50 24.Rc5 4:24 Kh8 3:19 25.Qd1 22 Qf6 3:08 26.Qf1 0 Rc7 8:07 27.Qg2 0 b6 28.Rc4 43 Rac8 7:00 29.Rgc1 6:12 Qe7 30.h3 3:46 Nb4 2:08 31.Be2 31.Bxc6 Nd3 32.Ra1 Nxf2+ 32...Nxb2 33.Rc3 33.Qxf2 Rxc6 34.Rxc6 Rxc6 31...Na2 0 32.Rd1 Nb4 16 33.b3 5:52 Nd5 34.Rcc1 5:42 Nb4 5:11 35.Bc4 46 Na2 33 36.Ra1 30 Nb4 30 37.Rg1 25 Rd8 5:33 38.Kh2 5:58 Qf6 39.Be2 5:25 Rdc8 1:49 40.Rad1 1:23 Nd5 1:31 41.Ba6 18 Rd8 24 42.Rc1 46 Nb4 0 43.Be2 1:40 Rdc8 1:35 44.Rc4 44 Qe7 1:05 45.Bf3 2:07 Kg8 1:13 46.Rcc1 Qf6 3:22 47.Be2 1:00 Kh8 55 48.Bc4 2:52 Nd5 0 49.Qg3 1:13 Rd8 50.h4 Qf7 0 51.Be2 17 Rdc8 0 52.Ba6 Ra8 27 53.Be2 1:00 Rac8 2:37 54.h5 4:29 Nf6 30 55.Qh4 30 Qe7 30 56.Kg2 30 Nd5 30 57.Qxe7 30 Rxe7 30 58.Bf3 30 Rec7 3:09 59.Bxd5 2:01 cxd5 41       Endgame KRR-KRR 60.Rb1 1:45 60.Rxc7 Rxc7 61.Kf3 Rc3= 60...Kg8 1:21 61.b4 28 Rc4 1:32 62.bxa5 7 bxa5 2 63.Kf3 22 Rb4 1:10 64.Rxb4 1:13 axb4 1 KR-KR 65.h6 5 g6 1:47 66.Rb1 24 Rb8 4 67.Ke2! 8 b3 1:10 68.Kd3 4 Ra8 0 69.Rxb3 25 Rxa4 12 70.Rb7 2:31 Wards off Ra7 Ra2 48 Better is 70...Ra1 71.Rg7+ Kh8 71.Rg7+± 28 Kh8 56 71...Kf8± 72.Re7+- 39 Kg8 8 73.Rxe6 47 Rxf2 18 74.Re8+! 1 Kf7 6 75.Rh8 3 Kf6 1:14 76.Rxh7 30 g5 34 76...Rh2± 77.Rh8 g5 77.fxg5+! 1:49 Kxg5 1 78.Rd7 5 Kxh6 5 79.Rxd5 2 Kg6 31 80.Re5 57 Ra2 30
81.e4? 30 White must play 81.Kc3!+- 81...fxe4+= 30 82.Rxe4 30 Kf5! 1:38 ( -> ...Ra3+) 83.Re8 2:47 Ra4! 10 84.Kc3 27 Kf6 19
85.d5? 16 85.Re4!+- Kb3 would now be deadly. Kf7 86.Re2 85...Kf7 22 86.Re2 8 Kf6 27 87.Re1 11 Kf7 19 88.Re6 1:59 Rh4 22 89.Re2 50 Ra4 24 90.Re1 31 Rh4 1:02 91.Re5 30 Ra4 28 92.Re1 4 Rh4! 10 93.Re6 2 Ra4 7 94.Re1 2 Rh4! 18 Weighted Error Value: White=0.04 (flawless) /Black=0.05 (flawless) Loses game: --- Black=1 Missed win: White=2 --- Mistake: --- Black=3 Inaccurate: White=3 Black=6 OK: White=24 Black=35 Best: White=11 Black=5 Strong: White=3 Black=4 ½–½
  • 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nakamura,H2802Mishra,A2600½–½2025E05American Cup Open Champions 20251.1
So,W2748Dominguez Perez,L2741½–½2025D38American Cup Open Champions 20251.2
Dominguez Perez,L2741So,W2748½–½2025C54American Cup Open Champions 20251.2
Sevian,S2692Aronian,L2748½–½2025C55American Cup Open Champions 20251.2
Robson,R2689Caruana,F2783½–½2025B35American Cup Open Champions 20251.2
Mishra,A2600Nakamura,H2802½–½2025B06American Cup Open Champions 20251.2
Nakamura,H2802Mishra,A26000–12025A14American Cup Open Champions 20251.3
Caruana,F2783Robson,R2689½–½2025A08American Cup Open Champions 20251.3
Caruana,F2783Robson,R2689½–½2025A06American Cup Open Champions 20251.3
Aronian,L2748Sevian,S26920–12025D04American Cup Open Champions 20251.3
So,W2748Dominguez Perez,L2741½–½2025E05American Cup Open Champions 20251.3
Aronian,L2748Sevian,S2692½–½2025A28American Cup Open Champions 20251.4
Dominguez Perez,L2741So,W2748½–½2025C41American Cup Open Champions 20251.4
Sevian,S2692Aronian,L27480–12025B07American Cup Open Champions 20251.4
Robson,R2689Caruana,F27830–12025B35American Cup Open Champions 20251.4
Mishra,A2600Nakamura,H28020–12025B06American Cup Open Champions 20251.4
Dominguez Perez,L2741So,W2748½–½2025C54American Cup Open Champions 20251.5
Sevian,S2692Aronian,L27480–12025C55American Cup Open Champions 20251.5
Mishra,A2600Nakamura,H2802½–½2025C54American Cup Open Champions 20251.5
Nakamura,H2802Mishra,A26001–02025A14American Cup Open Champions 20251.6
Aronian,L2748Sevian,S26921–02025B22American Cup Open Champions 20251.6
So,W2748Dominguez Perez,L2741½–½2025D04American Cup Open Champions 20251.6
Dominguez Perez,L2741So,W27481–02025C54American Cup Open Champions 20251.7
Nakamura,H2802Dominguez Perez,L2741½–½2025E06American Cup Open Champions 20252.1
Caruana,F2783Aronian,L2748½–½2025C55American Cup Open Champions 20252.1

All games - Women's (champions bracket)

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Nf3 9 Nf6 6 2.c4 39 e6 18 3.g3 33 d5 3:56 4.Bg2 13 c6 1:27 5.Qc2 4:07 b6 9:57 6.0-0 3:48 Bb7 4:38 7.d4 13:27 Nbd7 19 8.Nbd2 7:19 Be7 2:00 9.e4 40 dxe4 2:12 10.Nxe4 1:08 Nxe4 7:46 11.Qxe4 18 Nf6 24 12.Qc2 6:43 0-0 10:50 13.Rd1 2:45 Qc8 4:10 The main line 13...Qc8 scores better than 13...Qc7. 14.Ne5 9:31       E09: Closed Catalan: Main Line: 7 Qc2 c6 8 Nbd2. Bd6N 6:42 14...c5= 14...Rd8 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.c5 Qc7 18.f4 bxc5 19.Qxc5 Be7 20.Qc3 Qb6 21.Nc4 Qb5 1-0 Ghimpu,S (2429)-Nastore,P (2317) ROM-ch U20 Eforie Nord 2022 (5) 15.Bg5± 10:52 Ne8 6:02 15...Qc7 16.c5 3:31 White is better. bxc5 2:38 17.Nc4 22 White is much more active. cxd4 5:09
White must now prevent ...c5. 18.Nxd6! 28 18.Rxd4 h6 18...Nxd6 4 19.Be7! 16 This pair of bishops is nice. 19.Rxd4 Nf5 20.Rc4 h6 19...Nf5 6:16 20.Bxf8 13 Qxf8 2 21.Rac1 2:56       Black is under strong pressure. 21.Bxc6? Rc8-+ 21...g6 6:06 22.Qc5 3:03 Resist 22.g4 Nh4± 22...Qxc5 4:20 23.Rxc5 8 Rd8 18 24.Bxc6 3:39 Bxc6 6 25.Rxc6+- 8       Endgame KRR-KRN Rd5 3:54 26.b4 3:39       h5 2:34 26...Rd7 27.Rc5 Kg7 27.a4 40       d3 35 28.Rc3 2:05 d2 1:26 29.b5 12:28 Rd4 37
30.a5 1:06 Rb4 2:05 31.Rxd2 50 Rxb5 1:02 32.a6 1:11 Rb6? 3:22 32...Ra5 33.Rc6 Ra1+ 34.Kg2 g5 33.Ra2 15 Not 33.Rd7 Rxa6 34.Kg2 Nh6± 33...h4 34 34.Kg2 21 g5 53 35.Ra4 2:02 Rb2 25 36.Rg4 2:02 36.Rc7 36...f6? 5 36...Kf8 37.Ra4 37.Rxg5 hxg3 38.hxg3 Ra2± 37...g4 37.Re4 59 e5 2:33 38.Rf3 1:40 38.Rc7 38...Nd6 36 39.Ra4 1:30 f5 1:21 39...hxg3 40.Rxf6 Ne8 40.gxh4 1:32 g4 26 41.Rfa3 39 Kf7 1:33 42.Ra2 15 Rb3 16 43.R4a3 4 Rb1 48 44.h3 26 gxh3+ 14 45.Rxh3 23 f4 25 46.Rc3 36 Ke6 41 47.Rc6 1:00 and Rd2 would now be decisive Kd5 33 47...Kd7 48.Rc7 7 Nf5 22 49.Rxa7 26 Nxh4+ 1:03 50.Kh3 2 Rd7+ would kill now. Nf5 33 51.Rb7 27 Rg1 42 52.a7 36 Black got outplayed after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.31/Black=1.05 Mistake: White=1 Black=7 Inaccurate: --- Black=1 OK: White=19 Black=10 Best: White=2 --- Strong: White=2 --- 1–0
  • 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Lee,A2386Paikidze,N22941–02025E09American Cup Women Champions 20251.1
Krush,I2378Pourkashiyan,A22971–02025D27American Cup Women Champions 20251.2
Abrahamyan,T2310Zatonskih,A23151–02025C00American Cup Women Champions 20251.2
Pourkashiyan,A2297Krush,I2378½–½2025B51American Cup Women Champions 20251.2
Paikidze,N2294Lee,A23861–02025B51American Cup Women Champions 20251.2
Cervantes Landeiro,T2292Yip,C24080–12025D24American Cup Women Champions 20251.2
Yip,C2408Cervantes Landeiro,T22921–02025A00American Cup Women Champions 20251.3
Lee,A2386Paikidze,N22941–02025E10American Cup Women Champions 20251.3
Zatonskih,A2315Abrahamyan,T2310½–½2025B07American Cup Women Champions 20251.4
Paikidze,N2294Lee,A23860–12025B30American Cup Women Champions 20251.4
Yip,C2408Abrahamyan,T23100–12025A14American Cup Women Champions 20252.1
Lee,A2386Krush,I23781–02025E14American Cup Women Champions 20252.1

Links

<< Slaughter's and Simpson's
Pawn sacrifices - small price, big effect! >>
Topics: American Cup 2025
André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

The American Cup - Live!

3/17/2025 – The American Cup, one of the United States' premier chess tournaments, returns to Saint Louis. Now in its fourth year, the event runs from March 15-24 at the iconic World Chess Hall of Fame, featuring sixteen of America's top chess talents. With $400,000 in prize money up for grabs, the competitors will prove their mettle under mounting pressure in the double-elimination knockout format. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 18.00 CET (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST)
More...
 6

See also

American Cup: Missed chances in the open, three winners in the women's

3/16/2025 – The 2025 American Cup began with contested battles in both the open and women's sections. In the open section, all four games ended in draws, with top seeds Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura failing to convert with the white pieces. Meanwhile, the women's section saw three decisive games, as Irina Krush, Alice Lee and Carissa Yip secured victories. Yip's win was particularly dramatic, as her opponent, Thalia Cervantes, missed a forced checkmate before ultimately collapsing. | Photo: Crystal Fuller
More...
 6

Video

60m English Anti-Bayonet

King’s Indian fans who choose the Mar del Plata attack (7...Nc6) against White’s classical system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0) usually aim for a complex position with mutual attacks on open wings, requiring long-term strategic planning and tactical sharpness in critical moments. Computers often do not know how to handle the arising complex strategic positions, which suits players who like to think on their own instead of memorizing long variations. However, the fashionable Bayonet Attack (9.b4) interferes with Black’s ideas. After Black’s main move 9...Nh5 the positions opens, the lines get forced and computer analysis is important again. But this DVD offers an antidote against White’s Bayonet Attack, namely 9...a5! This move leads to sound positions with very few concrete lines, in which the focus is on strategy not on tactics. Objectively chances are equal but if Black knows what to do things might quickly become dangerous for White.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.