tag: US Championship 2015 - Page 1

Nakamura and Krush Captured U.S. Titles

4/16/2015 – The 2015 U.S. Chess Championships in Saint Louis, Missouri, ended last Sunday as expected: the top-rated grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura won his 4th U.S. title; on the women's side, Irina Krush defended the title, her seventh. But it was not that simple, as Huffington correspondent Lubomir Kavalek looks back at this dramatic championship.

U.S. Champ Final: Who else?!

4/13/2015 – A cheeky title, playing on last year's report. The favorites of the tournament in both sections won the tournament in the last round, and with few difficulties. Krush obtained an easy draw against Nemcova. She could have even pushed a slightly better endgame, but the draw guaranteed her first place. In the Open, Onischuk blundered, and Nakamura wrapped up the tournament.

US Champ R10: Leaders in Position

4/12/2015 – Round ten set up an end that might be somewhat anti-climatic. In the Open So was able to recover from his forfeit loss by beating Kamsky with black, something that hadn't happened since 2012. Robson and Nakamura drew in a boring game, leaving Nakamura one game away from the title. In the Women's Krush won, Nemcova lost and it will all come down to their showdown.

US Champ R9: Forfeit?!

4/11/2015 – A shocking development in the US Chess Championship. Wesley So, one of the top players in the world, was forfeited in his game against Akobian by the tournament's Chief Arbiter, Tony Rich. The reason? Note taking! He had been warned several times not to do so but ignored the warnings. In the Women's, Krush finally caught up to Nemcova. As to the controversy, what do you think?

US Champ R8: Show of Strength

4/10/2015 – Some deadly and accurate games in both sections. In the Open there were five decisive results. Troff was annihilated by Nakamura, Onischuk outplayed Naroditsky in professional fashion, Gareev taught a nice lesson to Sevian while Holt's preparation against So won him the game. In the Women's, Krush keeps advancing, she won a nice game against Melekhina and trails by half a point.

US Champ R7: Deadly Precision

4/9/2015 – Many crucial games were played with excellent technique today in the U.S. Championship. Sam Shankland played without a wrinkle against Timur Gareev, while Wesley So did the same against Alexander Onischuk. With more trouble, but winning at the end, Robson took out Naroditsky to tie for first. In the Women's Katerina Nemcova won again, keeping her tournament lead.

US Champ R6: Big Results

4/8/2015 – Important results in the Open section of the U.S. Chess Championship. Onischuk took down Kamsky to now tie for third with Sevian, who defeated Troff. In second place, is Robson who leapfrogged over So in a very strange game. The newest addition to the American team is now in third. In the Women's Krush blundered away a win, and with Nemcova winning again she now leads by a point.

US Champ R5: Bloody Easter

4/6/2015 – A holiday for many people in America, but the players in the U.S. Chess Championship definitely did not take it off. After six draws in the previous round, the entertainment level in round five was off the charts. Blunders, unexpected results, complicated positions, awkward/brilliant moves, it had it all! Meanwhile in the Women's in a difficult melee, Krush kept her chances alive.

US Champ R4: Peace

4/5/2015 – It was not the best played round of chess, and the excitement level went down just a little bit. The open section had six draws, some more exciting than others. The anticipated match up between So and Nakamura finished in a draw after Nakamura blundered a pawn, but was able to hold the draw. Meanwhile the action in the Women's was very up and down to say the least.

US Champ R3: Sevian defeats Top Ten

4/3/2015 – The round was wild for all sides, and all boards, but the news of the round, without question, was 14-year-old Samuel Sevian's defeat of World no.8 Wesley So, who resigned just short of getting mated. This was hardly the only surprise as Nakamura let Kamsky escape after squeezing him the entire game, while Irina Krush was on the wrong side of a massive attack by Paikidze. Nakamura-So tomorrow!

U.S. Champ R2: Favorites perfect

4/3/2015 – One did with a very clean game, the other with a bit of luck. Hikaru Nakamura cleanly wiped Varuzhan Akobian off the board after Akobian sacrificed a pawn, got no compensation and lost. Wesley So had a win against Sam Shankland, missed it, and a huge blunder by White in that game gave So the win. The best game of the day, though, without a doubt, was played in the Women's section.

U.S. Chess Champ begins tomorrow

3/31/2015 – The United States Chess Championship is one of the strongest tournaments in the world. In terms of national championships it is only below Russia's in strength. Hikaru Nakamura and Wesley So will be the favorites this year in the open section, but the fight will clearly be wild in the women's as well. We bring you a preview as well as a report from the opening ceremony.
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