3/29/2019 – Leinier Dominguez, playing in his first U.S. Championship, is now co-leader with Hikaru Nakamura. He took a small endgame plus and converted it to a full point against Sam Sevian in round eight. Nakamura and Dominguez are scheduled to play in Saturday's tenth round. Fabiano Caruana remains a half point back. In the Women's tournament Jennifer Yu extends to her lead to a full point after winning her third game in a row. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club
new: 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.
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.
If you're looking to revamp your opening repertoire and surprise your opponents with powerful, modern ideas, The Ultimate Scotch Gambit is the perfect choice.
€39.90
Caruana in pursuit
One look at the standings after seven rounds of play in the 2019 U.S. Championship was enough to confirm the status quo. The former 'Big Three' of Caruana, Nakamura and So are now joined by another perennial 2700+ rated player, Leinier Dominguez, and together they represent a monolithic force not to be challenged by mere mortals. Searching as hard as I could, I haven't been able to find one single game in St. Louis where a lower-rated player ever made a serious attempt at an upset. All they did was to defend from move 1. Some were able to save a draw, some not, but one thing was clear: Sam Shankland's 2018 heroics were not to be repeated.
Shankland has a disappointing 3½ from eight rounds | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Such were the words I wrote before the start of today's Round 8. I really hoped something would happen to force to delete that passage and come up with a more uplifting opening statement, but nothing of the sort took place.
Results of Round 8
Alright, I can understand that many spectators only follow the rating favourites, and view the rest of the field as also-rans. Let's look at the crosstable again and see how the top guys fared against one another.
Standings after Round 8
Guess what, so far it's all draws between them, albeit it could have changed in the following game.
On this DVD Grandmaster Daniel King offers you a repertoire for Black against the Catalan, based around maintaining the rock of a pawn on d5. Keeping central control ultimately gives Black good chances to launch an attack against the enemy king.
I'm sure neither one of the two will be content with anything less than another Championship title. Fabiano and Wesley will try hard in the remaining games, but as it's said by sportscasters, they no longer control their destiny, so they must hope for Hikaru and Leinier to stumble.
Caruana looms large on 5 points | Photo: Lennart ootes
Hikaru Nakamura has so far played the best chess of all contenders, but today he couldn't extend his lead. Sam Shankland choose a sturdy line of the Slav, championed by Kramnik, which leads to a Queens Gambit Accepted structure with the isolated Queen Pawn. White's extra move a2-a4, does nothing to improve White's attacking chances because of the hole on b4, and the central breakthrough does seem like a logical choice. The problem was Sam's deep preparation which Hikaru wasn't able to put to the test.
Nakamura explained what he was up against after the game:
"There's a certain World Champion who has won a lot of games like this..." (referring to Carlsen)
The only win in round eight belonged to Leinier Dominguez, who was therefore able to catch Nakamura. Don't forget that these two are yet to face each other. [They will play in round ten -Ed.]
The videos on this DVD give White a repertoire with concrete variations against all main lines Black can play and also show the typical strategic and tactical ideas of the Slav and the hidden subtleties of the position.
I must admit before the start of this tournament I had my doubts about Dominguez's form. Leinier has practically not played any chess in the past two years due to his move to the USA. Leaving the country of one's birth is never easy, and I wish Leinier and his family good health, professional success and happiness in their new homeland.
This loss must have been a bitter pill for Sam Sevian, who played the most interesting chess among the non-favourites. Sevian's three wins attest to that, but a couple of losses against the leaders cost him a chance to make a bigger statement.
Sevian with his game face on | Photo: Justin Kellar
All games
Commentary webcast
Changing of the guard?
Unlike the Men's event the 2019 U.S. Women's Championship may see a major changing of the guard. The 17-year-old Jennifer Yu is leading the field by a full point. Jennifer combines solid play with great tactical alertness, as seen from her latest victory.
Tap into your creative mind and start the game on a fresh note. The Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) is an opening outside of conventional wisdom. Create challenges and make your opponent solve problems early on.
Yu continues to impress | Photo: Justin Kellar
Giving chase is Anna Zatonskih, who will have White against Yu in round ten. Perhaps we're in for an exciting finish in both events!
Alex YermolinskyYermo is enjoying his fifties. Lives in South Dakota, 600 miles way from the nearest grandmaster. Between his chess work online he plays snooker and spends time outdoors - happy as a clam.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
The Trompowsky is especially suited for faster time controls as you don‘t have to memorise endless lines of theory, and you push your opponent out of their comfort zone after your second move.
Trompowsky Powerbook 2025 is based on 53,000 computer games from the engine room of playchess.com as well as 49,000 games from Mega and correspondence chess.
Trompowsky Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 8727 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 316 are annotated.
2025 European Championship with a German double victory and analyses by Bluebaum, Svane, Rodshtein, Yuffa, Navara and many more. Opening videos by Engel, King and Marin. Training sections “The Fortress”, “The Trap” and “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" etc.
In this dynamic and practical video course, IM Andrew Martin arms you with powerful antidotes to White’s most annoying sidelines.
€34.90
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.
Pop-up for detailed settings
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, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.