After the draw against 2021 US Senior Champion Gregory Kaidanov, Melikset Khachiyan’s lead has shrunk to 1½ points. But with only two rounds left to go, Khachiyan’s lead is still very comfortable.
Melikset Khachiyan (right) welcomes his opponent Gregory Kaidanov to the game — the two grandmasters were born in the same country, the Soviet Union, before emigrating to the United States | Photo: Bryan Adams
Arthur Guo’s game against Andrew Hong demonstrated once again that good preparation can win half the battle in a given game. And if this preparation includes a relevant novelty, perhaps even connected with a special idea, then even small inaccuracies do no harm later in the game — if the idea turns out to be viable.
There is no shortage of young chess talents in the USA: Arthur Guo and Andrew Hong play their game, Carissa Yip looks on | Photo: Crystal Fuller
Alice Lee won the marquee game of round 7 against Carissa Yip. Since the remaining four games all ended in draws, the 13-year-old now has a full-point lead going into the final two rounds of the tournament.
Alice Lee (walking) beat Carissa Yip | Photo: Crystal Fuller
