2010 U.S. Women's and Junior Closed Championships

Two of the most prestigious tournaments in the country, the 2010 U.S. Women's Championship and the 2010 U.S. Junior Closed Championship are taking place July 9-20 at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. IM Anna Zatonskih is looking to defend her crown, which she won for two years in succession. In the Junior section Ray Robson is the top seed.

Round three: Favorites draw at Women’s Championship

The streak has been broken. IM Anna Zatonskih held off an aggressive IM Irina Krush to secure a draw and a first-place tie. After 30 straight decisive games at the U.S. Women’s Championship, a run that began during round six of the 2009 U.S. Women’s Championship, the two early favorites agreed to a draw after an enthralling battle.

An aggressive yet calculated gamble by IM Irina Krush was countered by IM Anna Zatonskih’s solid defense, and the rivalry that has been stewing for years will be placed on the back burner pending a possible playoff to decide the championship.

After losses by WIM Alisa Melekhina and WIM Iryna Zenyuk, Krush and Zatonskih sit atop the leaderboard, each with scores of 2.5/3.

The U.S. Junior Closed Championship had an unlikely early leader after three rounds: FM Warren Harper won his game today with white against NM Tyler Hughes, which puts Harper at 3/3 atop the heap.

Steven Zierk making his opening moves against Ray Robson (Black won in 46)

Harper’s perfect score put him above the highest-rated player and tournament favorite GM Ray Robson, who defeated FM Steven Zierk.

NM Parker Zhao managed to defeat wunderkind FM Darwin Yang to pull into a two-way tie with GM Ray Robson at 2.5/3.

• Full report by Mike Wilmering and Katie Baldetti

Round four: Zhao takes over lead at Junior Closed, Zatonskih and Krush win

After a draw between the two top seeds in round three of the 2010 U.S. Women’s Championship, IM Anna Zatonskih and IM Irina Krush each won their round four game to maintain a first-place tie with scores of 3.5/4.

Zatonskih had a tough test with black against WIM Alisa Melekhina. Both players had used almost half of their time by move nine. At one point, Zatonskih spent almost 30 minutes on 6...g6. After mounting a kingside attack, Melekhina shifted her attack to the queen side with 24.Qa5, perhaps in an effort to complicate the position to take advantage of Zatonskih’s time trouble. Once the queens were off the board, Zatonskih’s experience was too much for Melekhina as she was slowly outplayed by the three-time U.S. Women’s Champion.

Krush looked strong in her victory over Rohonyan. After round two, Krush said she felt if she could play to her potential, she like her chances of recapturing the title. “I fell like I’m playing well,” she said. “If I keep playing like this, everything will be okay.”

WFM Abby Marshall drew WIM Beatriz Marinello to pick up half a point, her first of the tourney

WFM Tatev Abrahamyan won her round three game against WIM Iryna Zenyuk, which puts her in sole possession of third place with a score of 3/4.

Tatev analyses in the press room with Jennifer Shahade and Ben Feingold

The two highest-ranked players coming into the 2010 U.S. Junior Closed Championship, GM Ray Robson and IM Sam Shankland, faced off in round four. The game, a typical Caro-Kann in which Shankland castled kingside with black, was hard fought but ended in a draw after 31 moves.

After the draw, Robson is in a three-way tie for second place with a score of 3/4. A victory today by FM Darwin Yang over tourney-leader FM Warren Harper gives them each 3/4 as well. Shankland’s 1.5/4 puts him in a sixth-place tie with NM Eric Rosen.

Eric Rosen vs Peter Zhao ended in a 45-move win for Black, who is now in the lead

Prodigy Darwin Yang beat previous leader Warren Harper to join him and Robson in the second slot

• Full report by Mike Wilmering and Katie Baldetti

Standings after four rounds – Women

Standings after four rounds – Juniors

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN: Women – Juniors The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!