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Three out of six games ended decisively on the opening day of the US Women's Championship. Defending champion Carissa Yip claimed victory over Thalia Cervantes with the white pieces, while Bulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova and Rose Atwell secured wins playing with black, defeating former champions Nazi Paikidze and Anna Zatonskih, respectively. The remaining three games ended in hard-fought draws, with all of them surpassing the 40-move mark.
The most entertaining tactical battle of the day came from 15-year-old Rose Atwell, who stunned veteran Anna Zatonskih with a sharp attacking game. A key moment in the encounter occurred when Atwell played 26...Bxf2+, a move that wasn’t instantly decisive but opened up several tactical possibilities.
Zatonskih made a critical error with 28.Nc5, allowing Atwell to play 28...Rxc5 followed by the brilliant 29...Rd2+, putting her in an unassailable position.
The problem for White is that after 30.Qxd2, Black has 30...Ne4+, with a royal fork. Atwell went on to convert her advantage into a 43-move win. Remarkably, both contenders were under heavy time pressure, with less than 10 minutes on their clocks during this exciting tactical sequence.
Rose Atwell | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Tokhirjonova's win against Paikidze was a significant result, as Paikidze, although less active in recent years, is a formidable opponent in national competitions, having won the championship twice in 2016 and 2018. Meanwhile, Yip's victory was more expected, given her strong form and ambition to claim her third national title. The 21-year-old has been in excellent shape, coming off an impressive performance at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Looking ahead to round 2, two of the co-leaders will face off as Atwell takes on Yip, with the youngster having the white pieces. Meanwhile, eight-time US women's champion Irina Krush will be seeking her first victory of the tournament when she faces Megan Lee, also playing with the white pieces.
Defending champion Carissa Yip | Photo: Lennart Ootes
All six games in the opening round of the US Chess Championship ended in draws. The game that came closest to a decisive result was the encounter between Hans Niemann and defending champion Fabiano Caruana. Niemann, playing with the white pieces, gained an advantage in the middlegame but failed to find the precise sequence required to convert it into a more significant edge. Caruana's resourceful defence in a difficult position was impressive, showcasing his determination to retain his national title in Saint Louis.
Another noteworthy game was the battle between Sam Sevian and Levon Aronian, both of Armenian heritage. They engaged in a sharp variation of the French Defence, which had been analysed and played in prior games. Both players demonstrated excellent preparation, and the game concluded in a 26-move draw, with both having more than an hour left on their clocks by the end.
Round 2 promises more thrilling encounters, with two highly anticipated matchups. Fabiano Caruana will face Levon Aronian with the white pieces, while Leinier Dominguez, also playing white, will take on former US champion Sam Shankland.
Hans Niemann and Fabiano Caruana agreed to a draw in a position with two kings and a single pawn still on the board | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Sam Shankland | Photo: Lennart Ootes
