Day 2 of the American Cup saw the end of the first stage of the Champions Bracket, with several matches (Caruana-Robson, So-Shankland, Aronian-Dominguez) all decided in a rapid playoff. Meanwhile Nakamura was able to draw the second classical game after winning yesterday, relegating Sevian to the Elimination Bracket. In the Women’s Section, favorites Krush, Lee, and Tokhirjonova all managed to win their second games despite only needing a draw, while Paikidze defeated Zatonskih in convincing fashion to win their match 1½-½. | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club / Lennart Ootes
The 2023 American Cup kicked off with several decisive games on the first day of action, with Nakamura, Krush, Lee, & Tokhirjonova all taking a one-point lead in their initial matches. Their opponents (Sevian, Abrahamyan, Pourkashiyan, and Nemcova) will now have to win tomorrow’s game in order to force their match into a playoff. | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club / Lennart Ootes
After defeating GM Leinier Dominguez in a dramatic playoff, GM Levon Aronian (pictured) qualified for the finals of the 2022 American Cup, where he will face GM Fabiano Caruana for the 1st place prize of $50,000. In the women’s field, FM Alice Lee earned herself a rematch in the $25,000 final against GM Irina Krush, after winning an incredibly close match against WGM Tatev Abrahamyan that went all the way to Armageddon. | Photo: Saint Louis Chess Club / Bryan Adams
Both GM Fabiano Caruana (pictured) and GM Irina Krush managed to qualify to the finals of the American Cup, after drawing the second game and avoiding a playoff in their Champions Bracket matches against GM Leinier Dominguez and FM Alice Lee. | Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club, Lennart Ootes
Grandmasters Fabiano Caruana (pictured) and Irina Krush are one step closer to the finals of the American Cup, after winning the first games of their final matches in the Champions Bracket. This means GM Leinier Dominguez and FM Alice Lee are in a must-win situation in Monday to force a playoff. | Photos: Bryan Adams and Lennart Ootes, Saint Louis Chess Club