The 2024 American Cup kicks off at the Saint Louis Chess Center, tomorrow, March 12. The ten-day blowout showcases 16 top American players in an unusual double-elimination format consisting of both classical and rapid head-to-head matches across two eight-player fields (Open and Women's). The event boasts a $400,000 overall prize fund (with $250,000 designated for the Open and $150,000 for the Women's event).
Adia Onyango made a splash in her first month of eligibility for the Senior Women’s (50+) Invitational rating list. Onyango, who turned 50 in January, debuts at number ten on the updated-monthly lists tracking eligible players for national invitational events.
13-year-old Andy Woodward earned his third and final GM norm in Saudi Arabia with his 6/9 performance at the Jeddah Chess Festival’s Young Masters invitational Round Robin. Woodward finished in a three-way tie for second place, a half-point behind IM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (who beat Woodward in the first round).