[Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Shankland, S."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2698"] [BlackElo "2654"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "80"] [GameId "2232398642885657"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 Qa5+ 7. Nd2 e6 8. Ngf3 Nh6 9. c3 Qa6 10. Qxa6 Nxa6 11. b4 Nf5 12. Nb3 Be7 13. a4 b6 14. g3 Nb8 15. O-O Nd7 16. Bd2 c5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Na5 Nb6 19. Rfc1 Kd7 20. c4 cxb4 21. c5 Nc4 22. Nxc4 dxc4 23. Bxb4 Kc6 24. Rxc4 Rhd8 25. Kf1 Rd5 26. Rac1 Rad8 27. Ke2 R8d7 28. Re4 Nd4+ 29. Nxd4+ Rxd4 30. Rc4 Rxc4 31. Rxc4 Rd5 32. f4 Bxc5 33. Bxc5 Rxc5 34. Kd3 a5 35. Kd4 Rxc4+ 36. Kxc4 g6 37. Kd4 Kb6 38. Kc4 Kc6 39. Kd4 Kb6 40. Kc4 Kc6 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2738"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "53"] [GameId "2232398642902042"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a5 8. h3 Ba7 9. Re1 Ne7 10. Bb3 Ng6 11. Nf1 c6 12. Ng3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Be6 16. Ne4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Ndf4 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. Bc2 Bc4 20. b3 Bd3 21. Bxf4 Nxf4 22. Bxd3 Nxd3 23. Re3 Nf4 24. Ree1 Nd3 25. Re3 Nf4 26. Ree1 Nd3 27. Re3 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Caruana, F."] [Black "Oparin, G."] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "E36"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2661"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "53"] [GameId "2232398642902043"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 (4... O-O) 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 $5 (6. Qxc3 {is both more common and more successful than the move in the game, but it's not as if Caruana's choice is a bad one. Indeed, it's probably a good practical choice as it's the less-explored move, and when one is the favorite it's good to force the other player to make his own moves rather than following theory and the engines.}) 6... c6 {This certainly isn't the refutation of 6.bxc3. I suspect that this was a decision at the board brought about by Oparin's having been surprised and wanting to avoid principled lines that Caruana would have prepared deeply.} (6... O-O) (6... c5) (6... dxc4) ({and} 6... b6 {are all playable alternatives.}) 7. Nf3 b6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 Nbd7 (9... Ba6 10. e4 $1 g5 $1 11. Bg3 Nxe4 12. cxd5 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Bxf1 14. Rxf1 cxd5 15. Ne5 O-O 16. Ng6 $1 Re8 $4 (16... Nd7 $1 17. Nxf8 Qxf8 $14) 17. Rxf7 $3 Kxf7 18. Ne5+ $18 {is a nice line that may or may not have been part of Caruana's preparation.}) 10. e3 $14 {White's c-pawn isn't a problem, so he should be better thanks to his extra space and the bishop pair.} O-O 11. g4 $1 {Here we go: Caruana is immediately putting pressure on his lower-rated opponent.} Qe8 (11... Re8 $1 {was better, preparing ...e5 and clearing f8 for the knight to help defend. White is only slightly better at the end of the following lines:} 12. g5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 (13. Nxg5 Nf8 14. Rg1 e5 $14) 13... e5 $14 {and Black should manage to shield himself fairly successfully with moves like ...e4, ...Nf8, and ...Bf5.}) 12. g5 hxg5 13. Nxg5 e5 $6 {This is similar to the 11...Re8 lines, but it's a less harmonious setup. The queen and rook are both more passive and the knight can't reach f8. Black has escaped the pin (or quasi-pin) on the h4-d8 diagonal, but that's not as important.} (13... a5 $14) 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Bb5 (15. Rg1) 15... e4 16. Rg1 $16 Bb7 (16... a6 17. Bc6 Ra7) 17. Nh3 Nh7 18. Qe2 $6 (18. Nf4 $1) 18... Qc8 $2 (18... f6 $8 {was best, enabling ...Rf7 (and possibly ...g5).}) 19. Kd2 $1 $18 {Protecting c3 and connecting the rooks. Black is already lost.} Nc5 $2 {This more or less loses immediately.} (19... Ndf6 $142 {was better, though probably not good enough in the long run.} 20. Nf4 g6 21. Bxf6 $1 Nxf6 22. h4 $1 $18) 20. dxc5 Qxh3 21. Qh5 $1 {Threatening Rxg7+ followed by Bf6+ and Qxh3. (Or even better, Rxg7+ followed by Rg1+ and a speedy mate.)} g6 (21... Qf3 22. Qh6 g6 23. Be2 Qf5 24. Bh5 Kh8 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Rxg6 Rf7 27. Rag1 Qd7 28. c6 $18 (28. Bg3 $18)) 22. c6 (22. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 23. Qxg6+ Kh8 24. Rg1 Rg8 25. Bf6+ Nxf6 26. Qxf6+ Kh7 27. Bd7 $1 {is a nice way to finish. If Black doesn't take the bishop, it goes to f5 with check; if he does, then it's a ladder mate:} Qxd7 28. Qh4#) 22... Bc8 23. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 (23... Kh8 24. Bf6#) 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Rg1 {Now there's no ...Rg8 - compare the last note.} Bg4 26. Rxg4 Rf7 {A nice try, but nowhere near good enough.} 27. Bg3 $1 {A nice finishing touch. The threat is Be5+, winning material and mating. Unfortunately for Black, while both rooks can defend the e5 square, they can't guard it *and* stop Qg7/Qg8#.} (27. Bg3 $1 Re8 (27... Re7 28. Be5+ Rxe5 29. Qg7#) 28. Be5+ Rxe5 29. Qg8#) 1-0 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Woodward, Andy"] [Black "Aronian, L."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D11"] [WhiteElo "2590"] [BlackElo "2722"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "126"] [GameId "2232398642902044"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Nc3 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Ne5 Nfd7 9. Nd3 Bg6 10. Bd2 Be7 11. Rc1 Qxb3 12. axb3 Na6 13. Nf4 Nb4 14. Be2 a5 15. O-O O-O 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Ra1 Nc2 18. Rab1 Nb4 19. Rfc1 Rfd8 20. Ra1 dxc4 21. bxc4 Nc5 22. Bd1 e5 23. Ne2 exd4 24. exd4 Ne6 25. Bc3 Bg5 26. Rcb1 Bf6 27. d5 cxd5 28. Bxb4 axb4 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. cxd5 Nc5 31. Nc1 Kf8 32. Be2 Rd8 33. Bc4 b5 34. Ba2 Ra8 35. d6 Ra6 36. Nb3 Ne4 37. Rc1 Nxd6 38. Bb1 Nc4 39. Nc5 Ra1 40. Nb3 Ra7 41. Rd1 Bxb2 42. Rd5 Ke7 43. Kf1 Ra3 44. Bc2 Bc3 45. Bd1 Nd6 46. Nc5 Ra1 47. Ke2 f5 48. g4 Bf6 49. Bb3 Rb1 50. Rd1 Rb2+ 51. Rd2 Rxd2+ 52. Kxd2 Nc4+ 53. Kd1 Na5 54. Kc2 Kd6 55. Nd3 Nxb3 56. Kxb3 Kd5 57. Nf4+ Ke4 58. Nxg6 f4 59. h4 Bd4 60. h5 Bxf2 61. g5 f3 62. h6 gxh6 63. gxh6 Bd4 0-1 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Liang, Awonder"] [Black "Mishra, Abhimanyu"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A10"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2652"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "128"] [GameId "2232398642902045"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 c5 3. e3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. d5 O-O 7. Nf3 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. cxd5 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Be3 Nc5 12. Rc1 Bd7 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bf1 Qb6 15. Nd2 Ng4 16. Nc4 Nxe3 17. Rxe3 Qb4 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. a3 Qb3 20. Qxb3 Nxb3 21. Re1 Nc5 22. Nxd6 Bd7 23. Re3 Bd4 24. Rf3 Bg4 25. Rf4 Be5 26. Rxg4 Bxd6 27. Rc4 Rd8 28. Nb5 Bf8 29. b4 Nb3 30. Nxa7 Rxd5 31. Rc3 Nd4 32. Rc7 b6 33. h4 Re5 34. Rd7 Re7 35. Rxe7 Bxe7 36. Nc8 Bd8 37. a4 Kf8 38. Bc4 Nc6 39. b5 Ne5 40. Bd5 Nd3 41. Be4 Nc5 42. Bc2 Ke8 43. g3 Nb7 44. Na7 Na5 45. Be4 Bc7 46. f4 Bb8 47. Nc6 Nxc6 48. bxc6 Ke7 49. Kg2 Bc7 50. h5 f5 51. Bd5 gxh5 52. Kh3 Bd8 53. Bg8 h6 54. Bc4 Kd6 55. Bb5 Bf6 56. Bd3 Kxc6 57. Bxf5 Kd6 58. Bb1 Ke7 59. Bc2 Kf8 60. Bb1 Kg7 61. Bc2 Kf8 62. Bb1 Kg7 63. Bc2 Kf8 64. Bb1 Kg7 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Swiercz, D."] [Black "Robson, R."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C43"] [WhiteElo "2577"] [BlackElo "2664"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "142"] [GameId "2232398642902046"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nc3 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 c5 10. Qf3 c4 11. Bf5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bc5 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Bf4 Qd7 15. Rad1 Rcd8 16. Bg5 Be7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rxd5 Qa3 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Qxb7 Qxc3 21. Qe4 h6 22. g3 Qa5 23. e6 fxe6 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Qe7 Rb8 26. a3 Qc3 27. Qe4 Qxa3 28. Qxc4 a5 29. Kg2 Qb4 30. Qxb4 axb4 31. Rb1 Rc8 32. Rb2 g5 33. Kf3 Kg7 34. Ke3 Rc3+ 35. Kd2 Rf3 36. Ke2 Rc3 37. Kd2 Rf3 38. Ke2 Rc3 39. h3 h5 40. Kd1 Rf3 41. Rxb4 Rxf2 42. g4 Rh2 43. Rb3 Rh1+ 44. Kd2 Rh2+ 45. Kc1 Rh1+ 46. Kb2 hxg4 47. hxg4 Re1 48. Rb4 Kf6 49. Kb3 Ke5 50. Kc4 Rg1 51. Kb5 Rg3 52. Rc4 Rf3 53. Kb4 Rg3 54. c3 Rf3 55. Rd4 Rg3 56. Kc4 Rf3 57. Kb3 Rg3 58. Rb4 Rf3 59. Ra4 Rg3 60. Rc4 Rf3 61. Kb4 Rf4 62. Kb5 Rxc4 63. Kxc4 Kf4 64. Kd5 Kxg4 65. c4 Kf3 66. c5 g4 67. c6 g3 68. c7 g2 69. c8=Q g1=Q 70. Qh3+ Qg3 71. Qxg3+ Kxg3 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Sargsyan, Anna M."] [Black "Atwell, Rose"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C02"] [WhiteElo "2369"] [BlackElo "2353"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "79"] [GameId "2232398649877541"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nge7 7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Nc3 Be7 10. a3 O-O 11. b4 Rc8 12. Qd2 f6 13. g4 Nh6 14. exf6 Rxf6 15. Ne5 Nf7 16. f4 a5 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Na4 Nd6 19. b5 Na7 20. Nb6 Qc7 21. Nxc8 Naxc8 22. Bd3 Nc4 23. Qe2 Qb6 24. Be3 N8d6 25. a4 Qc7 26. g5 Rf7 27. Bxh7+ Kxh7 28. Qh5+ Kg8 29. g6 Bf6 30. gxf7+ Kf8 31. Bf2 Ne4 32. f5 Qb6 33. fxe6 Qxe6 34. Rac1 Ng5 35. Rc3 Nxf7 36. Re1 Qd7 37. Kh1 Qd8 38. Rh3 Qd7 39. Rc3 Qd8 40. Rc2 1-0 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Krush, I."] [Black "Lee, Alice"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2388"] [BlackElo "2409"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "97"] [GameId "2232398649877542"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {Alice Lee and Carissa Yip have overshadowed Irina Krush the last 2-3 years, but Krush has long been the boss of U.S. women's chess and remains for now the only American woman with the grandmaster title. In this game she reminds Lee of who's what.} 1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bg4 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Nge2 Qd7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nf4 c6 12. Bd3 Qd6 13. h3 Bd7 14. Nh5 Bd8 15. O-O Bc7 16. f4 c5 $2 (16... g6 $1 17. Ng3 f5 $1 {isn't bad for Black, as White's pieces don't have access to the "weak" Black kingside.}) 17. Qf2 $2 $16 {The right idea, but she should have first brought the rook into the attack.} (17. Rf3 $1 $18 {intending Rg3 is too strong.} g6 {doesn't work here - compare the 16...g6 line above - because of} 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Bxg6 $18) (17. dxc5 Qxc5 18. b4 $1 Qxe3+ 19. Kh2 $1 $18 {is a less obvious idea of the engine's that's even stronger.}) 17... c4 18. Bc2 (18. Qg3) 18... g6 $2 (18... Kh8 $1) 19. e4 $3 $18 {A great move by Krush. If Black doesn't take the knight White will play e5 and Nf6, which is hopeless for Black.} gxh5 20. e5 Qc6 21. f5 {Black's extra piece is irrelevant as all her pieces (excepting the fairly useless rook on f8) are stuck on the queenside.} Rd8 22. Qg3+ Kf8 23. f6 Be6 24. Ba4 $1 {Winning the queen, as any queen move away from the bishop's attack allows 25.Qg7#. Black could have resigned with a clear conscience.} Bb6 25. Rad1 $1 Ke8 26. Qh4 Kd7 27. Qxh5 a6 28. Bxc6+ Nxc6 29. Ne2 Rg8 30. Kh2 Rg5 31. Qxh6 Rag8 32. g4 Ba7 33. Qh4 b5 34. b3 c3 35. a3 a5 36. b4 c2 37. Rd2 axb4 38. axb4 Nxb4 39. Qg3 Nc6 40. Qa3 b4 41. Qa4 b3 42. Qxb3 Rb8 43. Qxc2 Rgg8 44. Rb1 Bb6 45. Qa4 Ra8 46. Qb5 Rab8 47. Qa6 Kc7 48. Rc2 Rgc8 49. Rcb2 {Lee's continuing to this point would make more sense if she were six rather than 16 years old, but at last she realizes that a grandmaster is capable of defeating her when she (Lee) has no counterplay to make up for her six point material disadvantage.} 1-0 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Pourkashiyan, A."] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2452"] [BlackElo "2291"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "108"] [GameId "2232398649877544"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,108,15,32,21,19,17,11,7,6,17,8,37,23,39,33,39,37,37,34,38,33,36,28,60,33,25,65,29,28,34,34,37,72,36,42,39,119,37,29,27,19,37,46,17,36,33,25,12,-22,10,4,2,-28,14,-23,20,0,32,4,43,48,24,9,22,-13,33,28,34,2,65,-7,31,47,-4,-32,18,-5,-3,-12,4,-58,22,-1,19,-15,-1,-131,-36,-150,-41,-153,-145,-69,-153,-135,1,-154,-190,-193,-148,-184,-195,-324,-182,-762,-760,-927,-870,-948,-961] For Lee to lose with Black to Krush isn't so surprising, but for the top-seeded Carissa Yip to lose with White to an underdog certainly is.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. a4 d6 6. a5 a6 7. c3 g6 8. Qb3 Qe7 9. Nbd2 Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Nd8 12. Nf1 Be6 13. Ne3 Bxc4 14. Nxc4 Ne6 15. Be3 Rfb8 16. Qc2 Ng4 17. Bd2 Re8 18. h3 Nf6 19. b4 Rad8 20. Rab1 c6 21. Be3 Nd7 22. Bd2 Rf8 23. g3 Kh7 24. Bc1 Nc7 25. Kg2 Rfe8 26. d4 Qe6 27. Ncd2 Nb5 28. Bb2 exd4 29. cxd4 d5 30. e5 Qe7 31. Bc1 Nf8 32. Rb3 f5 33. Qd3 Ne6 34. h4 Qf7 35. Rb1 Kg8 36. Nf1 f4 37. g4 Rf8 38. N1d2 h5 39. gxh5 gxh5 40. Bb2 (40. Ng5 $1 {forces Black to play very precisely to hold the balance.} Nxg5 41. hxg5 f3+ $1 42. Nxf3 Nxd4 $1 43. Nxd4 Qxf2+ 44. Kh3 c5 $3 (44... Qxe1 $2 45. Be3 $18) 45. bxc5 Qxe1 {Now it's possible, as} 46. Be3 {doesn't quite trap the queen thanks to} Qxa5 {, though White is also okay after} 47. Rxb7 $44) 40... Qf5 41. Qxf5 Rxf5 $11 {White's d-pawn is a target, but if Yip just wants to hold the game a draw is inevitable.} 42. Rg1 Bf8 43. Ba1 $2 {To play Rb3, I guess? It's a strange-looking move.} (43. Kh3+ {followed by Ng5+ holds the balance.}) 43... Rd7 $17 44. Kh3+ $2 (44. Kf1+ Rg7 45. Rh1 $17) 44... Rg7 $19 45. Rgd1 Kf7 46. Rb3 {Okay, the rook is on b3 - but so what?} Ke8 47. Nb1 Be7 48. Nc3 Nxc3 49. Bxc3 Rf8 $1 {Very nice. Black is breaking through on the g-file.} 50. Bd2 Rfg8 51. Rbb1 Rg4 {White's knight is overloaded. It's defending d4, but the really important point is h4 - no knight means that ...Rxh4 is mate.} 52. Rdc1 (52. Be1 {was better, but there's another tactical problem for White in addition to the ...Nxd4 trick we'll see in the game.} Bxh4 $1 53. Nxh4 {Not forced, though White is completely lost in any case.} Ng5+ 54. Kh2 Rxh4+ 55. Kg2 Nh3+ 56. Kf1 f3 57. Rd3 Rg1#) 52... Nxd4 $1 53. Ng5 (53. Nxd4 Rxh4#) 53... Bxg5 54. hxg5 Nf3 {White will lose at least one more pawn, but the biggest problem is that White's king is on the verge of getting mated. The immediate threat is 55...Nxg5+ 56.Kh2 Nf3+ and 57...Rh4#.} ({Or} 54... Ne6 {, which is similar.}) (54... Nf3 55. Rc3 {stops the aforementioned mate in three. However, Black can win by taking the bishop (for free) or by continuing to play for mate with} Nxg5+ 56. Kh2 Ne4 {, e.g.} 57. Bxf4 Rg2+ (57... Rxf4 $19) 58. Kh3 Nxf2+ (58... Nxc3 $19) 59. Kh4 R2g4+ 60. Kxh5 Rxf4 61. Rf1 Rh8+ 62. Kg6 Rg4+ 63. Kf5 Rf8+ 64. Ke6 Rg6#) 0-1