Elimination

Champions Open: Aronian Converts Small Benefits To Rating Huge

It was Aronian’s skill to transform small benefits that gained him a 2-0 lead vs. Robson. In each video games, Aronian was capable of flip an additional pawn within the endgame into the total level. He mirrored:

Virtually, it is very troublesome to play these positions. They could be drawn objectively, however I had a whole lot of time, and Ray did not. That was essential in at present’s two video games… It was simply simpler for me to play. Even when I used to be not enjoying my finest, I used to be nonetheless managing to pose sensible issues.

Even when I used to be not enjoying my finest, I used to be nonetheless managing to pose sensible issues.

―Levon Aronian

Champions Girls’s: Krush Leads vs. Escape Artist Lee

Although Krush outscored Lee at present, the 14-year-old worldwide grasp confirmed her skill to battle again in each video games. In recreation one, Krush gained an enormous house benefit on the kingside―ripe with the chance to construct up an assault. But, Lee challenged her opponent’s management over that a part of the board, activating her forces and equalizing till she reached time stress. 

Within the second recreation, Krush once more gained a successful place, however Lee snuck away when her opponent tried to arrange a mating web. 

Eliminations Open: Caruana, So Come Again With No Mercy

GM Leinier Dominguez scored first in recreation two, ending the sport with a pleasant tactic.

Within the fourth recreation, Caruana discovered himself in a must-win place in an excellent rook ending. As Caruana maneuvered and pressed on the kingside, Dominguez arrange a sturdy protection on that facet of the board. On the important second, although, the 40-year-old grandmaster forgot about his weak pawn on the queenside, and Caruana pounced. 

Caruana’s intelligent comeback victory is our Sport of the Day. Get pleasure from the next evaluation by GM Rafael Leitao coming quickly.

After resurging within the speedy, Caruana received each the blitz video games, gaining the higher hand from two extra stage endgames. 

GM Sam Sevian received the primary spherical vs. So, beginning with an trade sacrifice to wreck his opponent’s kingside and ending the sport with a perceptive tactical shot. After that, So made certain this was Sevian’s solely mark on the scoreboard, successful the subsequent three in a row. Can you discover how he received recreation two?

Black to maneuver.

Eliminations Girls’s: Yu Triumphs In 10-Sport Dogfight, Tokhirjonova Wins With A Spherical To Spare

Yu and IM Nazi Paikidze performed 9 decisive video games earlier than Yu prevailed within the tenth, successful the longest match in American Cup historical past. 

Although Paikidze in the end misplaced her earlier match vs. Krush, GM Cristian Chirila shared that she was general completely satisfied along with her efficiency yesterday due to her victory within the classical recreation. Paikidze additionally began her match vs. Yu on a excessive be aware, successful two video games in a row. 

Yu replied in type, successful with each colours in video games three and 4. In every, she relied on her endgame expertise to transform an additional pawn. 

Blunder alert! Black to maneuver and win!#AmericanCup pic.twitter.com/CbtrTuibXi

— Saint Louis Chess Membership (@STLChessClub) March 16, 2024

With a tied match, the blitz tiebreak started, and the opponents continued to commerce blows. Yu ran out of time within the fifth recreation however adopted it with a win on demant. The 22-year-old took the lead within the subsequent recreation after which let her flag fall in spherical eight.

After their one draw, Yu scored the ultimate win. Watch the final moments of their dogfight of a match beneath. 

Afterwards, Yu shared her emotions about her upcoming rematch vs. Tokhirjonova:

I am simply completely satisfied to think about it as a brand new begin to my match. I performed so badly in my match in opposition to her. I positively was fairly rusty moving into. I do not assume all of it was off but, nevertheless it’s positively a lot better than it was within the first match. I am trying ahead to having a recent begin.

I am simply completely satisfied to think about it as a brand new begin to my match.

―Jennifer Yu

After a hard-fought first recreation draw, WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova received the subsequent two in a row to knock out FM Zoey Tang. In recreation two, she sacrificed the trade for a middle pawn and in the end created highly effective linked passers. 

The 2024 American Cup is an over-the-board match in St. Louis that includes a number of the strongest gamers in the US. Break up into Open and Girls’s sections, the gamers will compete in a double-elimination knockout bracket whereas contesting for his or her share of the $400,000 prize fund. 

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