The 2015 U.S. Championship is an elite national championship event, featuring 12 of the strongest chess players in America. Over the course of eleven rounds, these competitors will battle for $175,000 in prize money, qualification into the World Championship cycle, and the coveted title of 2015 U.S. Champion.
U.S. Chess Championship - Final Round
Table |
White |
Score |
Rating |
Black |
Score |
Rating |
Result |
1 |
GM So, Wesley |
5.5 |
2788 |
GM Troff, Kayden W |
5.0 |
2532 |
1-0 |
2 |
GM Naroditsky, Daniel |
2.5 |
2633 |
GM Kamsky, Gata |
5.0 |
2683 |
½-½ |
3 |
GM Shankland, Samuel L |
4.5 |
2661 |
GM Akobian, Varuzhan |
5.0 |
2622 |
½-½ |
4 |
GM Sevian, Samuel |
4.5 |
2531 |
GM Holt, Conrad |
4.5 |
2530 |
1-0 |
5 |
GM Nakamura, Hikaru |
7.0 |
2798 |
GM Onischuk, Alexander |
6.0 |
2665 |
1-0 |
6 |
GM Gareev, Timur |
4.0 |
2604 |
GM Robson, Ray |
6.5 |
2656 |
0-1 |
Tony Rich, chief arbiter, with one of the main sponsors, Jeanne Sinquefield
So, Wesley 1-0 Troff, Kayden
What a beautiful rebound by Wesley So. After forfeiting his game he won his last two rounds, once against Kamsky and finally against Troff. Black's preparation was a little sketchy, as he found himself down a pawn in a Grunfeld, which seems normal nowadays, but his compensation was nowhere to be found. So easily took a full point and cilnched third place in the tournament.
1.e4 | 1,151,315 | 54% | 2422 | --- |
1.d4 | 936,812 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 277,856 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 180,054 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,559 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 13,858 | 54% | 2427 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,773 | 47% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,657 | 50% | 2385 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,715 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,156 | 54% | 2402 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,042 | 48% | 2408 | --- |
1.d3 | 919 | 50% | 2376 | --- |
1.g4 | 642 | 46% | 2360 | --- |
1.h4 | 429 | 53% | 2373 | --- |
1.c3 | 403 | 50% | 2418 | --- |
1.h3 | 244 | 56% | 2408 | --- |
1.a4 | 94 | 59% | 2484 | --- |
1.f3 | 82 | 47% | 2435 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 81 | 65% | 2503 | --- |
1.Na3 | 35 | 59% | 2475 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 c5!? 4.Bxf6 gxf6 5.e4 dxe4 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Bb5+?! Bd7 8.a4 8.Bxd7+ Nxd7 8...a6?! 8...e6 9.Ra3? Nc6 10.Nge2 e6 11.b4? 11.Nd4 0-0-0 12.0-0 f5 11...Qxb4 12.Rb3 Qa5 13.0-0 axb5 13...f5 14.Nxe4 Be7 15.axb5 Ne5 16.N2c3 Rc8? 16...Qc7 17.Nd6+ Kf8 17.Qd4?! 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Qxd6 Qc7 19.Ne4 Qxd6 20.Nxd6+ Ke7 21.Nxb7 17...Qc7 18.c6?! 18.f4 Ng6 19.c6 18...bxc6 19.b6 c5! 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Qf4 Qd8 22.Ne4 Ng6?! 22...Bg7 23.Qf3? 23.Nxf6+ Ke7 24.Qg5 h6 25.Nd5+ Kf8 26.Qxd8+ Rxd8 23...Be5 24.Rd1 Qe7 25.b7 Rb8 26.Rb6 0-0 27.g3 f5 28.Ng5 Bc7 29.Rxd7 Qxd7 30.Rxe6 Bd8 31.Qb3 Kh8 32.Qc3+ Qd4 33.Nf7+ 0–1
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Gareev,T | 2604 | Robson,R | 2656 | 0–1 | 2015 | D01 | U.S. Championship 2015 | 11 |
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Naroditsky, Daniel ½-½ Kamsky, Gata
Naroditky's position was certainly slightly better against Kamsky.
Kamsky finished tied for fifth, a far cry from defending his U.S. Championship
Shankland, Samuel ½-½ Akobian, Varuzhan
Shankland's deep opening preparation gave him a better position from the opening. The ensuing rook endgame was certainly better for white, but somehow Akobian had no problems holding the endgame. It feels like Shankland could have tortured Akobian for a longer time, but that was not the case and Akobian escaped with a relatively easy draw.
Sevian, Sam 1-0 Holt, Conrad
What a game! Sevian missed an absolutely fantastic way of winning in Holt's pet French line. After missing 27. Nf5!! Black got the initiative since White's attack didn't crash through fast enough. Black's passed b-pawn was a serious advantage which gave him a winning endgame. However, the win was not trivial as Black's king was quite exposed. In a strange turn of events, Holt flagged in what was probably a winning position.
Nakamura, Hikaru 1-0 Onischuk, Alexander
Who else?! 2015 U.S. Champion Hikaru Nakamura showed by far the most solid chess
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5!? 7...Bd7 8.Be3 8.0-0 0-0! 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bxc6 Ba6! 8...0-0 8...Bd7 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bxc5 Nxc5 11.Bxc6 Rb8 11...Ba6 12.Nc3! 12.0-0 12.Qxd5 Qe7 13.0-0 Rxb2 14.Nc3 Rxc2 12...Rxb2 13.Qxd5 Qxd5 14.Bxd5 Rxc2 15.Na3 Re2 16.Rac1 Nd3 16...Ne6 17.Rxc7 Be6 18.Bb3! a5 19.Ra7 Bxb3 20.axb3 Rxe5?! 20...g6 21.Rxa5 Rb8 22.Rb5 Rxb5 23.Nxb5 Rxe5 21.Nc4 Rb5 22.Rb1 Nc5 22...a4 23.Rxa4 Nc5 24.Ra3 Rfb8 25.Nd2 g6 23.Nxa5 Re8? 23...g6 24.g3 g6 25.b4 Nd3 26.Nc6 Re2 27.Rd7 Nxf2? 27...Rb6 28.Ne7+ Kg7 29.Nf5+ gxf5 30.Rxd3 28.Nd4 Nh3+ 29.Kh1 Nf2+ 30.Kg2 Nd1+ 31.Nxe2 1–0
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Nakamura,H | 2798 | Onischuk,A | 2665 | 1–0 | 2015 | C55 | U.S. Championship 2015 | 11 |
Please, wait...
Gareev, Timur 0-1 Robson, Ray
An almost impossible game to understand. Gareev's Veresov left him in an almost lost position by move 13, and after that Robson simply cleaned up.
An amazing result: Robson with a wonderful second place finish
Final Standings
Replay Final Round Games
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Be3 0-0 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bxc5 Nxc5 11.Bxc6 Rb8 12.0-0 Rxb2 13.Qxd5 Qxd5 14.Bxd5 Rxc2 15.Na3 Re2 16.Rac1 Nd3 17.Rxc7 Be6 18.Bb3 a5 19.Ra7 Bxb3 20.axb3 Rxe5 21.Nc4 Rb5 22.Rb1 Nc5 23.Nxa5 Re8 24.g3 g6 25.b4 Nd3 26.Nc6 Re2 27.Rd7 Nxf2 28.Nd4 Nh3+ 29.Kh1 Nf2+ 30.Kg2 Nd1+ 31.Nxe2 1–0
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Nakamura,H | 2798 | Onischuk,A | 2665 | 1–0 | 2015 | C44 | ch-USA 2015 | 11.1 |
Gareev,T | 2604 | Robson,R | 2656 | 0–1 | 2015 | D01 | ch-USA 2015 | 11.2 |
So,W | 2788 | Troff,K | 2532 | 1–0 | 2015 | A15 | ch-USA 2015 | 11.3 |
Shankland,S | 2661 | Akobian,V | 2622 | ½–½ | 2015 | D37 | ch-USA 2015 | 11.4 |
Naroditsky,D | 2633 | Kamsky,G | 2683 | ½–½ | 2015 | B41 | ch-USA 2015 | 11.5 |
Sevian,S | 2531 | Holt,C | 2530 | 1–0 | 2015 | C19 | ch-USA 2015 | 11.6 |
Please, wait...
U.S. Women's Championship - Final Round
Table |
White |
Score |
Rating |
Black |
Score |
Rating |
Result |
1 |
WIM Ni, Viktorija |
6.0 |
2188 |
WCM Virkud, Apurva |
3.5 |
2132 |
1-0 |
2 |
IM Paikidze, Nazi |
7.0 |
2333 |
WGM Foisor, Sabina-Francesca |
5.0 |
2235 |
½-½ |
3 |
GM Krush, Irina |
8.0 |
2477 |
WGM Nemcova, Katerina |
7.0 |
2279 |
½-½ |
4 |
IM Goletiani, Rusudan |
5.5 |
2311 |
WFM Yu, Jennifer R |
2.0 |
2180 |
½-½ |
5 |
WGM Sharevich, Anna |
5.5 |
2267 |
WGM Abrahamyan, Tatev |
5.5 |
2322 |
1-0 |
6 |
WIM Wang, Annie |
2.5 |
1901 |
FM Melekhina, Alisa |
2.5 |
2235 |
1-0 |
Ni, Viktorija 1-0 Virkud, Apurva
Ni favored a slow Reti position in which she attacked on the kingside, very reminiscent of a King's Indian Defense. Virkud never found counterplay on the queenside, even though she should have blasted open that side as soon as possible. Black's defense was in the long run impossible, and Ni crashed through the kingside with typical sacrifices and won without problems. An excellent finish for an already excellent tournament for Ni, who clinched third.
WCM Apurva Virkud: the wildcards did not have a strong event – they finished in the last spots
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.b3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.e3 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.Rd1 dxc4 11.bxc4 Qc8?! 11...Qc7 12.d3 12.Nc3 Rd8 13.Rac1 12...Rd8 13.Nbd2 13.Nc3 13...Qc7 14.e4?! 14.Ne1 14...e5 15.Nf1 Nd4 16.Nxd4?! 16.Qe1 Nc2 17.Bxe5 Qd7 18.Qe2 Nxa1 19.Bxa1 16...cxd4 17.Bc1 Nd7 18.f4 Bd6?! 18...f6 19.f5?! 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Bf4 19...f6 20.g4 Nc5 21.Ng3 Be7 22.h4 Bc6 23.g5 Be8?! 23...Ba4 24.Rf1 b5 24.Nh5 Bxh5 25.Qxh5 Bf8 26.Bf1 Kh8 27.Rd2 Rd7 28.Rg2 Qd8 29.Bd2 Qe8 30.Qg4 Qd8 31.Be2 Rb8 31...b5 32.Kh2 Rbb7 33.Rag1 Qe7 34.Qg3 34.h5 fxg5 35.Bxg5 Qd6 36.h6 34...Rdc7 34...Qd6 35.gxf6 Qxf6 36.Bg5 Qd6 37.f6 Rf7 35.Bh5? 35.h5 35...Qd6 35...b5 36.Qf3 Kg8 36...fxg5 37.hxg5 g6 37.Be8 37.gxf6 Qxf6 38.Bg5 37...Rc8 38.Bh5 Rcc7 39.Rg3 Qc6 39...b5 40.Bg6 40.gxf6 Qxf6 41.Bg5 40...hxg6 41.fxg6 Nxe4? 41...Qe6 42.Qh5 Be7 43.Qh7+ Kf8 44.Rf1 42.Qh5 Bd6 43.dxe4 Qxc4 44.Qh7+ Kf8 45.gxf6 Qxa2 46.R1g2 Qg8 47.f7 1–0
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Ni,V | 2188 | Virkud,A | 2132 | 1–0 | 2015 | A06 | U.S. Womens Championship 2015 | 11 |
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Paikidze, Nazi ½-½ Foisor, Sabina
In a must-win-game, considering that in best case scenario Nemcova would win Krush and with a win Paikidze would tie with the winners, the new addition to the championsihp decidided to play an exchange Slav with no winning chances at all. Foisor had no problems holding a draw.
Krush, Irina ½-½ Nemcova, Katerina
White just needed a draw to win the tournament, and she did exactly that. Krush traded all the pieces, got a slightly better endgame and she forced a draw in a minimally slightly better position, clinching her seventh U.S. Women's Chess Championship.
Irina Krush, seven times U.S. Women's Champion
Goletiani, Rusudan ½-½ Yu, Jennifer
Goletiani can consider herself lucky for surviving a bad opening decision, after which Black had a strong attack in every sector of the board. Somehow, Yu blundered, and she can consider herself lucky to have survived the combined action of White's major pieces and her powerful bishop on b2. The draw seemed to be a fair result in the resulting endgame.
Sharevich, Anna 1-0 Abrahamyan, Tatev
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 9...Re8 10.Bf4 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Rxe4 12.Nd2 Rxf4 10.a4 Re8 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.h3 Nh5 12...Rb8 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 13.Nc4 13.Nce4 13...Ne5 14.Na3?! 14.Nxe5 14...Bd7 14...f5 15.Bd2 b5?! 15...f5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Ncxb5 Bxb5 17...Qb6 18.Nc3 Qxb2 19.Ra2 Qb6 18.Nxb5 Qb6 19.Nc3 Nc4 20.Rb1 Rab8 21.g4 Nxd2! 21...Nf6 22.Bf4 22.Qxd2 Nf6 23.b3?! 23.Rfc1 23...Qb4 24.Qc2 Rb6?! 24...Nxg4 25.Ne4 25.Na2? Qb5 26.hxg4 Rxe2 25...Nf6 26.Nxd6 Red8 27.Ne4 Nxd5 25.Rfc1 Reb8 26.e3 Qa3 27.Bf1 Rxb3? 27...Qa7 28.Nb5! R3xb5 29.Rxb5 Rxb5 30.Bxb5 Nxd5 31.Rb1 Nc3?! 31...Nb4 32.Qa4 32.Qd2 d5 32...Qxa4 33.Bxa4 d5 32.Rb3 Qa1+ 33.Bf1 d5 34.Rb8+ Bf8 35.Kg2?! 35.Qd2 35...Qe1?! 35...Kg7 36.Rd8! Kg7 37.Rd7?! 37.Qb2 37...c4?! 37...Qa1 38.Qb2 Kg8 39.Qb8 Ne4 40.Qf4 Nd6 41.Rxd6 Bxd6 42.Qxd6 c3 43.Qxd5 c2 44.Bc4 1–0
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Sharevich,A | 2267 | Abrahamyan,T | 2322 | 1–0 | 2015 | A64 | U.S. Womens Championship 2015 | 11 |
Please, wait...
Wang, Annie 1-0 Melekhina, Alisa
In a complicated Benko gambit, Melekhina blundered a piece and that was the end of the game.
A rough event for Alisa, who will be flying to China in the next few days
to represent the U.S.A in the World Women's Team Championship.
Standings
\
Replay Final Round
1.e4 | 1,151,315 | 54% | 2422 | --- |
1.d4 | 936,812 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 277,856 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 180,054 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,559 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 13,858 | 54% | 2427 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,773 | 47% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,657 | 50% | 2385 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,715 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,156 | 54% | 2402 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,042 | 48% | 2408 | --- |
1.d3 | 919 | 50% | 2376 | --- |
1.g4 | 642 | 46% | 2360 | --- |
1.h4 | 429 | 53% | 2373 | --- |
1.c3 | 403 | 50% | 2418 | --- |
1.h3 | 244 | 56% | 2408 | --- |
1.a4 | 94 | 59% | 2484 | --- |
1.f3 | 82 | 47% | 2435 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 81 | 65% | 2503 | --- |
1.Na3 | 35 | 59% | 2475 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.d3 Be6 10.Be3 Nd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.Rc1 Bd6 13.Qa4 a6 14.Ng5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Nd4 16.Bxd4 Qxg5 17.Bc5 Qe7 18.Qb4 Rac8 19.Bxd6 cxd6 20.Rc3 Rxc3 21.Qxc3 f5 22.Qc4+ Qf7 23.Rc1 Qxc4 24.Rxc4 Rf7 25.Rc8+ Rf8 26.Rc7 Rf7 27.Rc8+ Rf8 28.Rc7 Rf7 ½–½
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Krush,I | 2477 | Nemcova,K | 2279 | ½–½ | 2015 | A22 | ch-USA w 2015 | 11 |
Paikidze,N | 2333 | Foisor,S | 2276 | ½–½ | 2015 | D14 | ch-USA w 2015 | 11 |
Ni,V | 2188 | Virkud,A | 2132 | 1–0 | 2015 | A13 | ch-USA w 2015 | 11 |
Sharevich,A | 2267 | Abrahamyan,T | 2322 | 1–0 | 2015 | A64 | ch-USA w 2015 | 11 |
Goletiani,R | 2311 | Yu,J | 2180 | ½–½ | 2015 | A11 | ch-USA w 2015 | 11 |
Wang,A | 1901 | Melekhina,A | 2235 | 1–0 | 2015 | A59 | ch-USA w 2015 | 11 |
Please, wait...
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Commentary provided for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis by Josh Friedel:
Joshua Friedel
Josh was born in 1986 in New Hampshire, USA and is currently living in Wisconsin. He obtained his international master title in 2005 and his grandmaster in 2008. He has participated in six US Championships, including a tie for fourth in 2008. Major Open tournament victories include: the 2003 Eastern Open, 2005 Berkeley Masters, 2008 National Open, 2009 Edmonton International, 2009 North American Open, 2010 Saint Louis Open, 2010 American Open, 2013 Chicago Open.
Josh will be annotating the games for the Saint Louis Chess Club. |
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Photos by Lennart Ootes