Hikaru Nakamura is the 2019 US Chess Champion

by Antonio Pereira

I like it! | 9 Comments

4/1/2019 – Four years after getting his fourth national title, Hikaru Nakamura became the clear winner of the 2019 US Chess Championship. He defeated Jeffery Xiong with the black pieces, while Leinier Dominguez and Fabiano Caruana — who were tied at the top with him after ten rounds — only added half points to their tallies. It was an exciting final day at the Saint Louis Chess Club, as at some point it seemed like Dominguez would also get a win against Timur Gareyev. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

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Hikaru's fifth

Not so long ago Hikaru Nakamura was the clear number one in US chess, but the inclusion of Wesley So, Fabiano Caruana and now Leinier Dominguez to the federation made it increasingly difficult to claim that spot. However, after a 2018 without much to celebrate in classical chess, Nakamura managed to get clear first at the strongest ever edition of the national championship.

He took home $50,000 and added almost fifteen points to his rating, reaching number 11 in the live ratings list after having stalled at number 16 in previous months.

Hikaru Nakamura, Sam Shankland

The latest two US champions sharing a laugh | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Results of Round 11

	Name	Rtg.	Pts.		Pts.		Name	Rtg
GM	Shankland,S GM Shankland,S 2731 1 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 2 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 3 GM Xiong,J 2663 0 4 GM So,W 2762 ½ 5 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 6 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 7 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 8 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 9 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 10 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 11 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ Ø 2678 5.5/11 GM Shankland,S 2731 1 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 2 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 3 GM Xiong,J 2663 0 4 GM So,W 2762 ½ 5 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 6 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 7 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 8 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 9 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 10 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 11 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ Ø 2678 5.5/11 GM Shankland,S 2731 1 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 2 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 3 GM Xiong,J 2663 0 4 GM So,W 2762 ½ 5 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 6 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 7 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 8 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 9 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 10 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 11 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ Ø 2678 5.5/11	2731	5	½-½	7	GM	Caruana,F GM Caruana,F 2828 1 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 2 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 3 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 4 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 5 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 6 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 7 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 8 GM So,W 2762 ½ 9 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 10 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 11 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ Ø 2669 7.5/11 GM Caruana,F 2828 1 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 2 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 3 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 4 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 5 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 6 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 7 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 8 GM So,W 2762 ½ 9 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 10 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 11 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ Ø 2669 7.5/11	2828
GM	Xiong,J GM Xiong,J 2663 1 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 2 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 3 GM Shankland,S 2731 1 4 GM Robson,R 2667 0 5 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 6 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 7 GM So,W 2762 ½ 8 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 9 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 10 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 11 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 Ø 2684 5/11 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 2 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 3 GM Shankland,S 2731 1 4 GM Robson,R 2667 0 5 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 6 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 7 GM So,W 2762 ½ 8 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 9 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 10 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 11 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 Ø 2684 5/11 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 2 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 3 GM Shankland,S 2731 1 4 GM Robson,R 2667 0 5 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 6 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 7 GM So,W 2762 ½ 8 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 9 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 10 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 11 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 Ø 2684 5/11	2663	5	0-1	7	GM	Nakamura,H GM Nakamura,H 2746 1 GM So,W 2762 ½ 2 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 3 GM Sevian,S 2642 1 4 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 5 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 6 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 7 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 8 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 9 GM Robson,R 2667 1 10 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 11 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 Ø 2676 8/11 GM Nakamura,H 2746 1 GM So,W 2762 ½ 2 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 3 GM Sevian,S 2642 1 4 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 5 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 6 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 7 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 8 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 9 GM Robson,R 2667 1 10 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 11 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 Ø 2676 8/11	2746
GM	Dominguez Perez,L GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 1 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 2 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 3 GM Robson,R 2667 1 4 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 5 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 6 GM So,W 2762 ½ 7 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 8 GM Sevian,S 2642 1 9 GM Liang,A 2590 1 10 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 11 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ Ø 2677 7.5/11 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 1 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 2 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 3 GM Robson,R 2667 1 4 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 5 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 6 GM So,W 2762 ½ 7 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 8 GM Sevian,S 2642 1 9 GM Liang,A 2590 1 10 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 11 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ Ø 2677 7.5/11 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 1 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 2 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 3 GM Robson,R 2667 1 4 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 5 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 6 GM So,W 2762 ½ 7 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 8 GM Sevian,S 2642 1 9 GM Liang,A 2590 1 10 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 11 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ Ø 2677 7.5/11	2739	7	½-½	3½	GM	Gareyev,T GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 GM Xiong,J 2663 0 2 GM So,W 2762 0 3 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 4 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 5 GM Liang,A 2590 1 6 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 7 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 8 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 9 GM Shankland,S 2731 0 10 GM Robson,R 2667 1 11 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ Ø 2694 4/11 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 GM Xiong,J 2663 0 2 GM So,W 2762 0 3 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 4 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 5 GM Liang,A 2590 1 6 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 7 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 8 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 9 GM Shankland,S 2731 0 10 GM Robson,R 2667 1 11 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ Ø 2694 4/11	2557
GM	So,W GM So,W 2762 1 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 2 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 3 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 4 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 5 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 6 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 7 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 8 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 9 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 10 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 11 GM Liang,A 2590 0 Ø 2675 6/11 GM So,W 2762 1 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 2 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 3 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 4 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 5 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 6 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 7 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 8 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 9 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 10 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 11 GM Liang,A 2590 0 Ø 2675 6/11 GM So,W 2762 1 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 2 GM Gareyev,T 2557 1 3 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 4 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 5 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 6 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 7 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 8 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 9 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 10 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ 11 GM Liang,A 2590 0 Ø 2675 6/11	2762	6	0-1	4	GM	Liang,A GM Liang,A 2590 1 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 2 GM Sevian,S 2642 0 3 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 4 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 5 GM Gareyev,T 2557 0 6 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 7 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 8 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 9 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 10 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 11 GM So,W 2762 1 Ø 2691 5/11 GM Liang,A 2590 1 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 2 GM Sevian,S 2642 0 3 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 4 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 5 GM Gareyev,T 2557 0 6 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 7 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 8 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 9 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 10 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 11 GM So,W 2762 1 Ø 2691 5/11	2590
GM	Lenderman,A GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 2 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 3 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ 4 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 5 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 6 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 7 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 8 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 9 GM So,W 2762 0 10 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 11 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ Ø 2686 4/11 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 2 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 3 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ 4 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 5 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 6 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 7 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 8 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 9 GM So,W 2762 0 10 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 11 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ Ø 2686 4/11 GM Lenderman,A 2637 1 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 2 GM Nakamura,H 2746 ½ 3 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ 4 GM Akobian,V 2625 ½ 5 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 6 GM Robson,R 2667 ½ 7 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 8 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 9 GM So,W 2762 0 10 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 11 GM Sevian,S 2642 ½ Ø 2686 4/11	2637	3½	½-½	5½	GM	Sevian,S GM Sevian,S 2642 1 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 2 GM Liang,A 2590 1 3 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 4 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ 5 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 6 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 7 GM Robson,R 2667 1 8 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 9 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 10 GM So,W 2762 ½ 11 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ Ø 2686 6/11 GM Sevian,S 2642 1 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 2 GM Liang,A 2590 1 3 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 4 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ 5 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 6 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 7 GM Robson,R 2667 1 8 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 9 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 10 GM So,W 2762 ½ 11 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ Ø 2686 6/11	2642
GM	Robson,R GM Robson,R 2667 1 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 2 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 3 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 4 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 5 GM So,W 2762 ½ 6 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 7 GM Sevian,S 2642 0 8 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 9 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 10 GM Gareyev,T 2557 0 11 GM Akobian,V 2625 0 Ø 2684 3.5/11 GM Robson,R 2667 1 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 2 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 3 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 4 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 5 GM So,W 2762 ½ 6 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 7 GM Sevian,S 2642 0 8 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 9 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 10 GM Gareyev,T 2557 0 11 GM Akobian,V 2625 0 Ø 2684 3.5/11 GM Robson,R 2667 1 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 2 GM Caruana,F 2828 ½ 3 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 0 4 GM Xiong,J 2663 1 5 GM So,W 2762 ½ 6 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 7 GM Sevian,S 2642 0 8 GM Liang,A 2590 ½ 9 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 10 GM Gareyev,T 2557 0 11 GM Akobian,V 2625 0 Ø 2684 3.5/11	2667	3½	0-1	3	GM	Akobian,V GM Akobian,V 2625 1 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 2 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 3 GM So,W 2762 ½ 4 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 5 GM Sevian,S 2642 0 6 GM Liang,A 2590 0 7 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 8 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ 9 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 10 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 11 GM Robson,R 2667 1 Ø 2687 4/11 GM Akobian,V 2625 1 GM Dominguez Perez,L 2739 ½ 2 GM Xiong,J 2663 ½ 3 GM So,W 2762 ½ 4 GM Lenderman,A 2637 ½ 5 GM Sevian,S 2642 0 6 GM Liang,A 2590 0 7 GM Nakamura,H 2746 0 8 GM Gareyev,T 2557 ½ 9 GM Caruana,F 2828 0 10 GM Shankland,S 2731 ½ 11 GM Robson,R 2667 1 Ø 2687 4/11	2625

It was a three-horse race when the round began, and the first one to finish his game was Fabiano Caruana, who could not create enough play with the black pieces against 2018 champion Sam Shankland. This was not a surprise for Nakamura, who mentioned in the post-game interview that he expected this to happen — he was almost certain, on the other hand, that Leinier Dominguez would win.

Shankland demonstrated he was happy with the overall result of the event, congratulating his long-time comrade on Twitter:

There's nobody on Earth I would rather be my successor. Congrats @GMHikaru!
— Sam Shankland (@GMShanky) 31 de marzo de 2019

Fabiano Caruana, Sam Shankland

Three players were in the fight for first when the round began | Photo: Lennart Ootes

By the time Sam and Fabiano signed the draw, all eyes were put on Leinier Dominguez v Timur Gareyev, as the prediction made by both Caruana and Nakamura seemed to be about to be confirmed — Leinier did get a large advantage with the white pieces. After having gotten the upper hand, however, the Cuban-born GM missed a big opportunity:

And Action! - How to crown positional play by tactics

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Dominguez vs. Gareyev

Position after 25...Rxc4

Try your own variations on the diagram above!

White's 26.fxe5 was not the most challenging, as the computers were screaming for 26.f5, going for a kingside attack. Leinier said afterwards that he had seen the idea but that after 26...♞g5 27.♔g2 ♞f7 28.f6 g6 he could not see a clear way to continue. Thus, he decided to go for the capture on e5, which also looked good. And he was right, as White still was the one putting pressure afterwards in the game.

When the players reached the time control, White was a piece up, but Black had a pawn on b2 in return:

Position after 40...Qe4+

A difficult technical task awaited Dominguez, who had precisely made the most of these sort of small advantages throughout the tournament.

Gareyev found the right defensive manoeuvres, however, and the draw was signed after 77 moves. White was still a piece up, but the black king was active and controlled the knight's entrance squares, while also threatening to capture the all-important h-pawn:

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Position after 77.Kf6

Leinier had a great tournament, especially taking into account the fact that he had not played a classical chess tournament for over two years. He shared second place with Fabiano Caruana and took home $25,000.

Leinier Dominguez

The hiatus did not hurt Leinier's chess strength | Photo: Lennart Ootes

A few minutes prior to Leinier and Timur finally agreeing to a draw, Nakamura had already signed the scoresheet of his eleventh round game against Jeffery Xiong with 0-1 as a result. He later confessed that he had prepared mostly for 1.e4. Against 1.d4 he chose an old weapon of his, the Dutch Defence, aware of the fact that Xiong usually does not feel very comfortable in these structures.

By move 30, Black already had an edge, but at that point Jeffery threw away an opportunity to muddy the waters:

The Dutch Stonewall - A fighting repertoire against 1.d4

In the Dutch Stonewall Black from the very first move fights for the initiative. Let Erwin l'Ami take you on a fascinating journey to the depth and attractions of this unique opening. At the end you will be rewarded with a new repertoire against 1.d4!

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Xiong vs. Nakamura

Position after 31...Kf6

Instead of 32.♖b7, Xiong could have gone for 32.♖e6+, giving up the exchange but also getting a strong passed pawn on e6. After the text, however, Hikaru got a strong initiative and never looked back until getting the coveted win in 58 moves.

Position after 55.Rf6

Resignation came after 55...♜a1+ 56.♔g2 ♜g1+ 57.♔h2 g3+ 58.♔h3 ♜h1+ (58...h5 was mate-in-seven) and White has more than enough reasons to give up at this point.

Jeffery Xiong, Hikaru Nakamura

Keeping an eye... | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Hikaru talked to Maurice Ashley afterwards. When asked about his bad run in classical chess, he pointed out that he felt things could have gone a different way had he found the right moves at some very particular critical moments. This triumph, therefore, is very important for him, as he managed to get crucial victories when he felt he was in must-win situations — Hikaru particularly mentions his games against Robson, Akobian and, of course, Xiong, all wins with the black pieces.

A key factor, according to the champion, was the big support he received from the Twitch community. Hikaru has lately become a regular feature in the streaming world — a whole new way to approach chess improvement?

Interview with Hikaru Nakamura

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Final standings

Rk.	Name	Rtg.	Pts.	n	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	TB	Perf.
1	Nakamura,H	2746	8.0	11		½	½	½	1	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	40.25	2851
2	Dominguez Perez,L	2739	7.5	11	½		½	½	1	½	1	½	1	½	½	1	38.50	2810
3	Caruana,F	2828	7.5	11	½	½		½	½	½	½	1	1	1	1	½	37.75	2802
4	So,W	2762	6.0	11	½	½	½		½	½	0	½	1	½	1	½	31.50	2711
5	Sevian,S	2642	6.0	11	0	0	½	½		½	1	½	½	1	½	1	28.50	2722
6	Shankland,S	2731	5.5	11	½	½	½	½	½		½	0	½	½	1	½	29.75	2678
7	Liang,A	2590	5.0	11	½	0	½	1	0	½		½	½	1	0	½	26.75	2655
8	Xiong,J	2663	5.0	11	0	½	0	½	½	1	½		½	½	1	0	25.75	2648
9	Lenderman,A	2637	4.0	11	½	0	0	0	½	½	½	½		½	½	½	20.50	2584
10	Akobian,V	2625	4.0	11	0	½	0	½	0	½	0	½	½		½	1	19.50	2585
11	Gareyev,T	2557	4.0	11	0	½	0	0	½	0	1	0	½	½		1	19.25	2592
12	Robson,R	2667	3.5	11	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	1	½	0	0		19.00	2551
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

All games

White	EloW	Black	EloB	Res	ECO	Rnd

Sevian,S	2642	Caruana,F	2828	½–½	B33	1.1
Nakamura,H	2746	So,W	2762	½–½	E06	1.2
Shankland,S	2731	Robson,R	2667	½–½	D11	1.3
Akobian,V	2625	Dominguez Perez,L	2739	½–½	D35	1.4
Gareyev,T	2557	Xiong,J	2663	0–1	A09	1.5
Liang,A	2590	Lenderman,A	2637	½–½	B40	1.6
Xiong,J	2663	Akobian,V	2625	½–½	C14	2.1
Caruana,F	2828	Robson,R	2667	½–½	C45	2.2
Lenderman,A	2637	Nakamura,H	2746	½–½	D27	2.3
So,W	2762	Gareyev,T	2557	1–0	A40	2.4
Dominguez Perez,L	2739	Shankland,S	2731	½–½	B48	2.5
Sevian,S	2642	Liang,A	2590	1–0	B18	2.6
Akobian,V	2625	So,W	2762	½–½	D85	3.1
Nakamura,H	2746	Sevian,S	2642	1–0	A28	3.2
Shankland,S	2731	Xiong,J	2663	0–1	C44	3.3
Liang,A	2590	Caruana,F	2828	½–½	B22	3.4
Robson,R	2667	Dominguez Perez,L	2739	0–1	C65	3.5
Gareyev,T	2557	Lenderman,A	2637	½–½	E46	3.6
Xiong,J	2663	Robson,R	2667	0–1	C67	4.1
Caruana,F	2828	Dominguez Perez,L	2739	½–½	E06	4.2
So,W	2762	Shankland,S	2731	½–½	B12	4.3
Liang,A	2590	Nakamura,H	2746	½–½	C54	4.4
Lenderman,A	2637	Akobian,V	2625	½–½	D37	4.5
Sevian,S	2642	Gareyev,T	2557	½–½	C67	4.6
Nakamura,H	2746	Caruana,F	2828	½–½	B33	5.1
Dominguez Perez,L	2739	Xiong,J	2663	½–½	B51	5.2
Robson,R	2667	So,W	2762	½–½	C67	5.3
Akobian,V	2625	Sevian,S	2642	0–1	E32	5.4
Shankland,S	2731	Lenderman,A	2637	½–½	D53	5.5
Gareyev,T	2557	Liang,A	2590	1–0	A28	5.6
So,W	2762	Dominguez Perez,L	2739	½–½	C65	6.1
Caruana,F	2828	Xiong,J	2663	1–0	C65	6.2
Nakamura,H	2746	Gareyev,T	2557	1–0	A04	6.3
Sevian,S	2642	Shankland,S	2731	½–½	C67	6.4
Lenderman,A	2637	Robson,R	2667	½–½	D14	6.5
Liang,A	2590	Akobian,V	2625	1–0	C18	6.6
Akobian,V	2625	Nakamura,H	2746	0–1	A41	7.1
Xiong,J	2663	So,W	2762	½–½	D92	7.2
Gareyev,T	2557	Caruana,F	2828	0–1	D27	7.3
Dominguez Perez,L	2739	Lenderman,A	2637	1–0	B40	7.4
Robson,R	2667	Sevian,S	2642	0–1	C65	7.5
Shankland,S	2731	Liang,A	2590	½–½	A45	7.6
Nakamura,H	2746	Shankland,S	2731	½–½	D16	8.1
Caruana,F	2828	So,W	2762	½–½	E04	8.2
Sevian,S	2642	Dominguez Perez,L	2739	0–1	D41	8.3
Lenderman,A	2637	Xiong,J	2663	½–½	A05	8.4
Liang,A	2590	Robson,R	2667	½–½	C55	8.5
Gareyev,T	2557	Akobian,V	2625	½–½	E21	8.6
Robson,R	2667	Nakamura,H	2746	0–1	B78	9.1
Dominguez Perez,L	2739	Liang,A	2590	1–0	C42	9.2
Akobian,V	2625	Caruana,F	2828	0–1	A80	9.3
So,W	2762	Lenderman,A	2637	1–0	D35	9.4
Xiong,J	2663	Sevian,S	2642	½–½	E04	9.5
Shankland,S	2731	Gareyev,T	2557	1–0	E11	9.6
Nakamura,H	2746	Dominguez Perez,L	2739	½–½	D41	10.1
Caruana,F	2828	Lenderman,A	2637	1–0	C42	10.2
Sevian,S	2642	So,W	2762	½–½	C54	10.3
Liang,A	2590	Xiong,J	2663	½–½	B10	10.4
Akobian,V	2625	Shankland,S	2731	½–½	D48	10.5
Gareyev,T	2557	Robson,R	2667	1–0	D70	10.6
Xiong,J	2663	Nakamura,H	2746	0–1	A89	11.1
Dominguez Perez,L	2739	Gareyev,T	2557	½–½	B56	11.2
Shankland,S	2731	Caruana,F	2828	½–½	E11	11.3
So,W	2762	Liang,A	2590	0–1	A28	11.4
Lenderman,A	2637	Sevian,S	2642	½–½	E32	11.5
Robson,R	2667	Akobian,V	2625	0–1	D36	11.6

Sevian, Samuel2642

½–½

Caruana, Fabiano2828

US-ch Open 2019
Saint Louis[TA]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c4 b4 12.Nc2 a5 The position is equal. 13.g3 B33: Sicilian: Pelikan and Sveshnikov Variations 0-0 14.Bg2 g6 15.0-0 Bg7 16.Qd3 Be6 17.a3N Predecessor: 17.b3 Ra7 18.Rfd1 Rb7 19.a3 bxa3 20.Rxa3 Qb8 1/2-1/2 (39) Larsen,L (2448) -Vaclav,J (2481) ICCF email 2009 17...bxa3 18.Qxa3 Qb8 19.Rfd1 Ra7 20.b3 Rb7 21.Rab1 Nd4 22.Nxd4 exd4 23.Bf1 h5 24.Bd3 h4 25.Qxa5 Rxb3 26.Qd2 Bxd5 27.exd5 Bf6 28.Qc2 Rxb1 29.Rxb1 Qa7 30.Qd2 Kg7 31.Qf4 Qa3 32.Qe4 Rh8 33.Rb7

Threatening mate with Qxg6+. 33...Qc1+ 34.Bf1 hxg3 35.hxg3 Rh5 36.Rb1 Qc3 37.Rd1 Be5 38.Bd3 Qb2 White must now prevent ...Bxg3! 39.Qe2 Qb8 40.Rb1 Qc8 41.Qf3 Bf6 42.Re1 Re5 43.Rxe5 Bxe5 Accuracy: White = 52%, Black = 72%. ½–½

Jennifer Yu cannot stop winning

The 2019 Women's US Champion continued her absolutely astounding run after having secured the title with a round to spare. Jennifer took down Carissa Yip to wrap up her performance in Saint Louis with nine wins and two draws, while also getting a 2½-point lead over her closest rivals. Yu already has the three norms required to become an IM and will be looking to increase her rating in order to get the title (she gained around a hundred rating points in this event).

It was a dream tournament for Jennifer | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Second place in the Women's was shared between Tatev Abrahamyan and Anna Zatonskih, after the latter was defeated for a second day in a row, this time against Sabina Foisor. A royal fork gave Sabina the victory:

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Foisor vs. Zatonskih

Position after 34...Ne5

35.♕xf6+ ♚xf6 36.♘d5+ and Black resigned. The fact that, despite finishing with two losses, she managed to tie for second place goes to show how strong Zatonskih's play had been in the first nine rounds.

Tatev Abrahamyan ended up tied for second | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Results of Round 11

Name	Rtg.	Pts.		Pts.	Name	Rtg
Yu,J	2273	9	1-0	4½	Yip,C	2279
Wang,A	2304	6½	½-½	4½	Sharevich,A	2282
Foisor,S	2276	3	1-0	7½	Zatonskih,A	2430
Gorti,A	2272	3½	½-½	7	Abrahamyan,T	2377
Krush,I	2451	4	1-0	4	Feng,M	2199
Nguyen,E	2143	2½	0-1	4	Eswaran,A	2234

Final standings

Rk.	Name	Rtg.	Pts.	n	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	TB	Perf.
1	Yu,J	2273	10.0	11		½	1	½	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	48.75	2678
2	Abrahamyan,T	2377	7.5	11	½		½	½	1	1	1	1	0	1	½	½	39.00	2419
3	Zatonskih,A	2430	7.5	11	0	½		1	½	1	1	1	1	0	1	½	37.00	2414
4	Wang,A	2304	7.0	11	½	½	0		½	½	1	1	½	1	1	½	34.50	2394
5	Sharevich,A	2282	5.0	11	0	0	½	½		½	½	½	1	½	0	1	23.00	2258
6	Krush,I	2451	5.0	11	0	0	0	½	½		½	1	1	0	½	1	21.50	2243
7	Eswaran,A	2234	5.0	11	0	0	0	0	½	½		1	0	1	1	1	20.00	2263
8	Yip,C	2279	4.5	11	0	0	0	0	½	0	0		1	1	1	1	17.00	2230
9	Feng,M	2199	4.0	11	0	1	0	½	0	0	1	0		1	0	½	21.25	2200
10	Foisor,S	2276	4.0	11	0	0	1	0	½	1	0	0	0		1	½	20.25	2193
11	Gorti,A	2272	4.0	11	0	½	0	0	1	½	0	0	1	0		1	17.75	2193
12	Nguyen,E	2143	2.5	11	0	½	½	½	0	0	0	0	½	½	0		15.00	2096
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

All games

White	EloW	Black	EloB	Res	ECO	Rnd

Krush,I	2451	Nguyen,E	2143	1–0	D12	1.1
Zatonskih,A	2430	Gorti,A	2272	1–0	E17	1.2
Abrahamyan,T	2377	Feng,M	2199	0–1	C18	1.3
Eswaran,A	2234	Wang,A	2304	0–1	B20	1.4
Sharevich,A	2282	Yu,J	2273	0–1	D30	1.5
Yip,C	2279	Foisor,S	2276	1–0	C28	1.6
Wang,A	2304	Krush,I	2451	½–½	E59	2.1
Abrahamyan,T	2377	Zatonskih,A	2430	½–½	C42	2.2
Yu,J	2273	Eswaran,A	2234	1–0	A61	2.3
Gorti,A	2272	Yip,C	2279	0–1	A05	2.4
Feng,M	2199	Nguyen,E	2143	½–½	A06	2.5
Foisor,S	2276	Sharevich,A	2282	½–½	D00	2.6
Krush,I	2451	Yu,J	2273	0–1	B13	3.1
Yip,C	2279	Abrahamyan,T	2377	0–1	C00	3.2
Zatonskih,A	2430	Feng,M	2199	1–0	D02	3.3
Nguyen,E	2143	Wang,A	2304	½–½	C01	3.4
Sharevich,A	2282	Gorti,A	2272	0–1	E09	3.5
Eswaran,A	2234	Foisor,S	2276	1–0	B08	3.6
Yu,J	2273	Nguyen,E	2143	1–0	C50	4.1
Zatonskih,A	2430	Yip,C	2279	1–0	D77	4.2
Feng,M	2199	Wang,A	2304	½–½	A06	4.3
Foisor,S	2276	Krush,I	2451	1–0	B62	4.4
Abrahamyan,T	2377	Sharevich,A	2282	1–0	B23	4.5
Gorti,A	2272	Eswaran,A	2234	0–1	A61	4.6
Wang,A	2304	Yu,J	2273	½–½	D17	5.1
Sharevich,A	2282	Zatonskih,A	2430	½–½	E04	5.2
Eswaran,A	2234	Abrahamyan,T	2377	0–1	C16	5.3
Krush,I	2451	Gorti,A	2272	½–½	E10	5.4
Yip,C	2279	Feng,M	2199	1–0	C03	5.5
Nguyen,E	2143	Foisor,S	2276	½–½	D25	5.6
Feng,M	2199	Yu,J	2273	0–1	A05	6.1
Zatonskih,A	2430	Eswaran,A	2234	1–0	D61	6.2
Abrahamyan,T	2377	Krush,I	2451	1–0	B35	6.3
Foisor,S	2276	Wang,A	2304	0–1	D37	6.4
Yip,C	2279	Sharevich,A	2282	½–½	B43	6.5
Gorti,A	2272	Nguyen,E	2143	1–0	A06	6.6
Yu,J	2273	Foisor,S	2276	1–0	A20	7.1
Krush,I	2451	Zatonskih,A	2430	0–1	D31	7.2
Nguyen,E	2143	Abrahamyan,T	2377	½–½	E19	7.3
Wang,A	2304	Gorti,A	2272	1–0	E32	7.4
Eswaran,A	2234	Yip,C	2279	1–0	B67	7.5
Sharevich,A	2282	Feng,M	2199	1–0	A40	7.6
Gorti,A	2272	Yu,J	2273	0–1	D00	8.1
Zatonskih,A	2430	Nguyen,E	2143	½–½	D70	8.2
Abrahamyan,T	2377	Wang,A	2304	½–½	B56	8.3
Yip,C	2279	Krush,I	2451	0–1	B35	8.4
Sharevich,A	2282	Eswaran,A	2234	½–½	A46	8.5
Feng,M	2199	Foisor,S	2276	1–0	A06	8.6
Yu,J	2273	Abrahamyan,T	2377	½–½	E46	9.1
Wang,A	2304	Zatonskih,A	2430	0–1	E36	9.2
Eswaran,A	2234	Feng,M	2199	0–1	C18	9.3
Nguyen,E	2143	Yip,C	2279	0–1	D76	9.4
Krush,I	2451	Sharevich,A	2282	½–½	D31	9.5
Foisor,S	2276	Gorti,A	2272	1–0	A40	9.6
Zatonskih,A	2430	Yu,J	2273	0–1	D17	10.1
Abrahamyan,T	2377	Foisor,S	2276	1–0	C67	10.2
Yip,C	2279	Wang,A	2304	0–1	B69	10.3
Feng,M	2199	Gorti,A	2272	0–1	E08	10.4
Eswaran,A	2234	Krush,I	2451	½–½	B38	10.5
Sharevich,A	2282	Nguyen,E	2143	1–0	D43	10.6
Yu,J	2273	Yip,C	2279	1–0	A10	11.1
Foisor,S	2276	Zatonskih,A	2430	1–0	D37	11.2
Gorti,A	2272	Abrahamyan,T	2377	½–½	E18	11.3
Wang,A	2304	Sharevich,A	2282	½–½	D31	11.4
Krush,I	2451	Feng,M	2199	1–0	A25	11.5
Nguyen,E	2143	Eswaran,A	2234	0–1	A45	11.6

Krush, Irina2451

1–0

Nguyen, Emily2143

US-ch Women 2019
Saint Louis[TA]

WIM

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 D15: Slav Defence: 4 Nc3 a6 and gambit lines after 4 Nc3 dxc4 6.Qb3 with more complications. b5 7.c5 Nbd7 8.Nh4 Bg6 9.a4 6...Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6 8.0-0 White has an edge. Bb4 9.a3 Bxc3 10.bxc3 b5 11.cxd5N Predecessor: 11.cxb5 axb5 12.a4 Ne4 13.Ba3 Rxa4 1/2-1/2 (42) Ding,L (2816)-Vitiugov,N (2709) Shenzhen 2018 11...exd5 12.Nd2 0-0 13.f3 Nbd7 14.e4 dxe4 15.fxe4 c5 16.Qf3 cxd4 17.cxd4 Nc5 18.Bb2 And now e5 would win. Na4 19.Qb3! Ra7 20.Kh1 Rd7 21.d5 Black must now prevent Bxf6. Nxb2 22.Qxb2 Re8 Black is really pushing. 23.Rf4 Nh5 23...Qb6 24.Rf5= Nf6 25.Qd4 Qe7 26.Re1 Qxa3 27.h3 Better is 27.Nf3 27...Rc8 27...Qd6 28.Rc1 h6 28.Re3 28.Rf3 Qd6 29.Rfe3 28...Qc5 29.Qd3 29.Qxc5 Rxc5 30.Rg3 29...Qc2 30.Qd4 Black should prevent Rxf6. Qc5 31.Qd3! Ne8 32.Rff3 Nd6 32...f6 Strongly threatening ...a5. 33.Nb3 Qc2 33.e5 Nc4 34.Qf5! Nxe3?? 34...Nxd2 keeps the upper hand. 35.Qxd7 Nxf3 36.Rxf3 Qc1+ 37.Kh2 Qc7 38.Qxc7 Rxc7 35.Qxd7+- Rf8 35...Qc7 36.Qxc7 Rxc7 36.e6 Qc1+

37.Kh2! Qxd2 38.exf7+ Kh8

39.Rxe3! Qf2 39...Qxe3 40.Qd6 40.Qe8 Qf4+ 41.Kg1 Accuracy: White = 57%, Black = 40%. 1–0

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Topics: Awonder Liang, Hikaru Nakamura, Leinier Dominguez, Sabina Foisor, Sam Shankland, US Championship 2019, Varuzhan Akobian

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Books, boards, sets: Chess Niggemann

Antonio Pereira Antonio is a freelance writer and a philologist. He is mainly interested in the links between chess and culture, primarily literature. In chess games, he skews towards endgames and positional play.

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US Ch: Favourites prevail

3/30/2019 – Only three out of twelve games finished drawn in Friday's ninth round at the US Championships in Saint Louis. In the Open, those on top maintained their winning ways, with Hikaru Nakamura and Leinier Dominguez still sharing the lead. Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So also won and are the only ones with realistic chances of leaping to the front in the final sprint. In the Women's, Anna Zatonskih is a half point behind her round ten rival, Jennifer Yu. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club

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US Ch: Caruana wins, but Nakamura leads

3/26/2019 – With a win over Timur Gareyev, Hikaru Nakamura (pictured) took sole lead in the US championship heading into the tournament's only rest day. But Fabiano Caruana is a mere half point behind after he scored his first full point in a classical game since October. Jennifer Yu leads the women's championship but yesterday she got a little help from Caissa the chess goddess. Despite her impressive 5½/6 score, she's also only a half point ahead, as Anna Zatonskih also won. | Photo: Justin Kellar

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Video

An Anti-Sicilian Repertoire

Tired of spending hours and hours on the boring theory of your favourite opening? Then here is your solution, play an Anti-Sicilian with 3.Bb5 against 2...d6 or 2...Nc6, and 3.d3 against 2...e6. In 60 minutes you will get a crash course in how to avoid mainstream theory and in understanding the ideas of this Anti-Sicilian setup. After these 60 minutes you should be able to survive the Sicilian for a long time, without being bothered by new developments found by engine x supported by an x-core machine. Now that it finally comes down to understanding, let's play chess!

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Rules for reader comments

Petrosianic 4/2/2019 02:49

Believe it or not, Yu's score is not a record. Rachel Crotto scored 10½ / 11 in the 1979 US Women's Championship.

DaveC 4/1/2019 11:08

I like Seirawan's idea regarding World Championship matches that end in a tie - have a final classical game where the champion has draw odds, BUT the challenger gets white!

lajosarpad 4/1/2019 10:53

@fgkdjlkag

Chess is so complicated that no human will ever play it to near perfection. Ever. What humans are capable of is to train their middlegame and endgame skills and to memorize engine-generated theory. This means that everyone is beatable. If a top engine (with decent hardware, of course) would play a ten-game match against a top grandmaster, then achieving at least half a point would be the human's goal. They are all beatable.

From 55 games 27 were decided this time, which is just a tiny bit lower than half of the games.

You are right to state that in the World Championship Match the 12 draws are ridiculous. But what is the reason? Were the two contenders unbeatable? Not at all. They just did not take risks, they were more afraid of losing than excited of winning. Back then a large debate was unfolding that I took part of as well here on Chessbase and back then I stated that there is indeed a problem. The current system of the World Championship match encourages sticking to opening theory for the contenders, where they are in their comfort zone. The match is short-enough to increase the importance of any decided game and since the rules are absolutely balanced, nobody has the advantage. I see this to be a problem.

If the World Champion would have draw odds, then the conditions would encourage at least one of the players to play for a win. From the start of the match the challenger would be wise to do his job and really challenge the world champion. If the challenger takes the lead, then the world champion would have to play for a win.

Like in old days. Also, in the days of Petrosian, the so-called grandmaster draw of 15-16 moves was fairly commonly occurring, but back then the spectators did not whine, because they respected more the players and the game than now.

Lavanda 4/1/2019 09:53

Zatonskih's highest title is IM, not WGM. If you put the GM title next to Irina Krush, then you should also do the same with IM Zatonskih.

fgkdjlkag 4/1/2019 09:26

I don't know why more ppl don't seem to take the problems with top-level chess seriously. Nakamura gave a very pessimistic-sounding interview a couple days ago about how extremely difficult it is for any top player to get a win these days, and Caruana described his impossible task of trying to get a win with black against Shankland. Top chess has become a test of endurance, playing on endlessly in slightly better positions until the opponent fatigues, Carlsen being the main example. The world championship ending in 12 draws, creating a difficult situation for tiebreaks that no one is happy about, further exemplifies it.

Mr. Sinquefield should take Annie Wang and Tatev Abrahamyan out for an expensive dinner.

KevinC 4/1/2019 06:59

@willyrobinson, That is theory, and after 9...Ne4; 10. Ne4 Ba1; 11. Neg5 it is known to be better for white. For example, as an example line, the main move is 11...c5; 12.e4 Bg7 (the comp thinks Bf6 is slightly better); 13.Nh4! h6 14.Ne6 Be6 15.de and white has a VERY dangerous attack (+1.81 Stockfish 10 depth 26). That is EXACTLY the type of line you don't want to play against a kid, even a GM kid, who is certainly a human calculator.

Grewia 4/1/2019 06:56

April Fool's!

Oh wait...

willyrobinson 4/1/2019 02:39

I watched Nakamura's game yesterday. Why does black not play Ne4 on move nine? It seems very uncomfortable for white, but I'm a patzer with no chess engine, so...