While the favorites lead in the Champions section, it was a day of comebacks in the Elimination Bracket on day five of the 2024 American Cup.
GM Levon Aronian went 2/2 vs. GM Ray Robson, putting the latter in a must-win position for both games tomorrow. GM Irina Krush gained the lead vs. IM Alice Lee, though the prodigy saved the second game in the last moments.
In the Elimination section, GMs Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So made comebacks while WGM Jennifer Yu fought back from the largest deficit to win the longest match in American Cup history.
Day six begins on Sunday, March 16, 2024, at 2:20 p.m. ET/19:20 CET/11:50 p.m. IST.
Champions:
Elimination
Champions Open: Aronian Converts Small Advantages To Score Big
It was Aronian’s ability to convert small advantages that gained him a 2-0 lead vs. Robson. In both games, Aronian was able to turn an extra pawn in the endgame into the full point. He reflected:
Practically, it’s very difficult to play these positions. They might be drawn objectively, but I had a lot of time, and Ray didn’t. That was crucial in today’s two games… It was just easier for me to play. Even if I was not playing my best, I was still managing to pose practical problems.
Even if I was not playing my best, I was still managing to pose practical problems.
―Levon Aronian
Champions Women’s: Krush Leads vs. Escape Artist Lee
Though Krush outscored Lee today, the 14-year-old international master showed her ability to fight back in both games. In game one, Krush gained a vast space advantage on the kingside―ripe with the opportunity to build up an attack. Yet, Lee challenged her opponent’s control over that part of the board, activating her forces and equalizing until she reached time pressure.
In the second game, Krush again gained a winning position, but Lee snuck away when her opponent tried to set up a mating net.
Eliminations Open: Caruana, So Come Back With No Mercy
GM Leinier Dominguez scored first in game two, finishing the game with a delightful tactic.
In the fourth game, Caruana found himself in a must-win position in an even rook ending. As Caruana maneuvered and pressed on the kingside, Dominguez set up a sturdy defense on that side of the board. At the critical moment, though, the 40-year-old grandmaster forgot about his weak pawn on the queenside, and Caruana pounced.
Caruana’s clever comeback victory is our Game of the Day. Enjoy the following analysis by GM Rafael Leitao coming soon.
After resurging in the rapid, Caruana won both the blitz games, gaining the upper hand from two more level endgames.
GM Sam Sevian won the first round vs. So, starting with an exchange sacrifice to wreck his opponent’s kingside and ending the game with a perceptive tactical shot. After that, So made sure this was Sevian’s only mark on the scoreboard, winning the next three in a row. Can you find how he won game two?
Black to move.
Eliminations Women’s: Yu Triumphs In 10-Game Dogfight, Tokhirjonova Wins With A Round To Spare
Yu and IM Nazi Paikidze played nine decisive games before Yu prevailed in the 10th, winning the longest match in American Cup history.
Though Paikidze ultimately lost her previous match vs. Krush, GM Cristian Chirila shared that she was overall happy with her performance yesterday because of her victory in the classical game. Paikidze also started her match vs. Yu on a high note, winning two games in a row.
Yu replied in kind, winning with both colors in games three and four. In each, she relied on her endgame skills to convert an extra pawn.
Blunder alert! Black to move and win!#AmericanCup pic.twitter.com/CbtrTuibXi
— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) March 16, 2024
With a tied match, the blitz tiebreak began, and the competitors continued to trade blows. Yu ran out of time in the fifth game but followed it with a win on demant. The 22-year-old took the lead in the next game and then let her flag fall in round eight.
After their one draw, Yu scored the final win. Watch the last moments of their dogfight of a match below.
Afterwards, Yu shared her feelings about her upcoming rematch vs. Tokhirjonova:
I’m just happy to think of it as a new start to my tournament. I played so badly in my match against her. I definitely was pretty rusty going in. I don’t think all of it was off yet, but it’s definitely much better than it was in the first match. I’m looking forward to having a fresh start.
I’m just happy to think of it as a new start to my tournament.
―Jennifer Yu
After a hard-fought first game draw, WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova won the next two in a row to knock out FM Zoey Tang. In game two, she sacrificed the exchange for a center pawn and ultimately created powerful connected passers.
The 2024 American Cup is an over-the-board tournament in St. Louis featuring some of the strongest players in the United States. Split into Open and Women’s sections, the players will compete in a double-elimination knockout bracket while contesting for their share of the $400,000 prize fund.
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