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Only four players have positive scores in the U.S. Women’s Championship, and two of them have a 1½-point lead over the other two.
Co-leaders Carissa Yip and Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova have each collected five wins and two draws to reach an impressive 6/7 score with four rounds to go in Saint Louis. Tied for second are Irina Krush and Alice Lee. Krush is undefeated but has only grabbed two wins, while Lee, drew in the first round, lost two games in a row and has now obtained four consecutive wins to catch the 8-time national champion.
On Thursday, Yip, Tokhirjonova and Lee all won with the white pieces. Yip played a topical Sicilian sacrifice in her game against Thalia Cervantes.
Grabbing the knight with 15...exd5, which is the strongest move in the position, leads to wild complications, with Black most likely needing to place her king on d8 to deal with White’s threats. Cervantes thought for 10 minutes and replied by 15...Nc5 instead, and Yip handled her edge in the ensuing middlegame proficiently.
The final position featured multiple pins.
In this video course, twenty-nine examples with multiple questions are presented in the interactive format, which is ideal for a range of playing strengths. Step by step you will be taken through the complex positions.
Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova | Photo: Lennart Ootes
All games finished drawn for a second consecutive round in the open championship, which means Fabiano Caruana continues to be the sole leader with a plus-three score.
In sole second place stands Hans Niemann, who is set to face Ray Robson with black in Friday’s eighth round. Sharing third place a half point back are super-GMs Wesley So and Leinier Dominguez. Both So and Dominguez will also have the black pieces in the last round before the second rest day.
Navigating the Ruy Lopez Vol.1-3
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
Round 8 will see the leader facing Sam Shankland, surely a dangerous opponent.
A 58-move draw was signed in the game between Ray Robson and Fabiano Caruana in the seventh round | Photo: Lennart Ootes
