Caruana Becomes 3-Time U.S. Champion, Yip Surpasses Tokhirjonova

Reigning champion GM Fabiano Caruana has successfully defended his title at the 2023 U.S. Championship, clinching the tournament with a round to spare and a 1.5-point lead over the field. The now three-time U.S. champion took a fitting path to first: after defeating GM Hans Niemann in round nine, Caruana defeated another one of his main contenders, GM Abhimanyu Mishra, in the penultimate round. 

While the open section is decided, the U.S. Women's Championship is still up in the air after a turbulent turn of events. IM Carissa Yip defeated four-time champion IM Anna Zatonskih to take over the lead from WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, who lost a topsy-turvy game to GM Irina Krush. 

The final round starts on October 17 at 2:30 p.m. ET/20:30 CEST/12:00 a.m. IST.

• U.S. Championship
• U.S. Women's Championship

U.S. Championship

Entering the round, there were three players within striking range of Caruana: GMs Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez, and Mishra. All eyes were on Mishra who also had the chance to face the leader head-to-head.

Caruana built up enough pressure on the kingside that it compelled Mishra to give up an exchange. Just as Caruana seemed to be sailing to victory, he faced a curious obstacle:

I think have some sort of disease because whenever I play with my queen, I usually put it in a place where it's completely trapped. I did this against Sam. I've done this many times in the past. I self-trap my queen. I did it again today: Qb4 and then suddenly I realize ...Nc4 and my queen can't move. It can't go to b1.

I complicated my life so much... Any move besides Qb4 and I win the game. Anything. This game should be over in five minutes instead of two hours.

Ultimately, Caruana was able to win the game all over again by fighting out an exchange-up ending to move 75. 

As Caruana took in his third U.S. Championship title, he shared: "Overall, it's a great feeling... I couldn't be happier about repeating the result from last year."

His national title defense also coincided with the release of his first Chessable course:

is it a coincidence that @FabianoCaruana won the US Championship on the day his first Chessable course was released? haha probably. unless????

— Chessable (@chessable) October 17, 2023

Both So and Dominguez were unable to get enough play going with the black pieces to keep pace with Caruana. Dominguez drew a short, solid game vs. GM Ray Robson while So sacrificed the exchange for a perpetual check vs. Niemann. 

With a stunning rook sacrifice, GM Andrew Tang capped off a hard-fought game vs. GM Dariusz Swiercz with a mating combination. Afterwards, he shared: "My goal was to get at least one win, and that was such a nice way to do it. That's probably the nicest combination I've ever played over the board."

Tang's first victory is our Game of the Day, with annotations by GM Dejan Bojkov below.

GM Levon Aronian scored his own first victory by capitalizing on GM Sam Shankland's error in the opening. Aronian shared after the game: "I'm elated because I thought it was going to be a winless tournament, which is always a nightmare."

Check out @SabinaFoisor ‘s interview with GM Levon Aronian. Listen to his thoughts about the future of chess!#STLChessClub #USChessChamps @LevAronian pic.twitter.com/YjEfYK5Rsm

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) October 16, 2023

U.S. Championship | All Games Round 10

Round 10 Standings

U.S. Women's Championship

For the sixth time—every single time she's had the black pieces—Yip fianchettoed her dark-squared bishop to the kingside as she faced Zatonskih. Again showing her in-depth understanding of this structure, Yip sacrificed a pawn and built up a decisive kingside attack. 

As the first winner of the day, Yip made her bid for the lead early in the round while Tokhirjonova's duel with Krush raged on. 

Here’s a happy, but still very focused IM Carissa Yip, @carissayipchess as she stopped to chat for a few minutes with @SabinaFoisor.#USChessChamps #STLChessClub pic.twitter.com/n8V1wlwsuI

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) October 16, 2023

After Krush gained a dominating position in the middlegame, Tokhirjonova fought back in the ending despite being down two pawns. It looked as if the game would soon be winding down to a draw. With under a minute, Krush's winning chances seemed to have disappeared. Then, the opportunity to claim a three-move repetition appeared on the board, yet Tokhirjonova let it pass.

With this fresh chance to keep playing, Krush switched gears and played a dynamic pawn move on the kingside, going all-in while in time pressure. Krush reflected: "50.f5 was probably the best moment of the game for me because you're already supposed to be acquiescing to the three-move repetition. You've got no time compared to your opponent. But you pull out that little bit inside of you to play for the win."

Ending her five-game winning streak, Tokhirjonova's first loss of the event gives Yip a half-point lead as they head into the final round. While Yip and Tokhirjonova fight for first, the race for third is alive and well. All three players in contention—Krush, IM-elect Alice Lee, and WGM Tatev Abrahamyan—won this round.

Lee defeated defending champion WGM Jennifer Yu. Lee gained the upper hand when Yu became ambitious on the kingside and overlooked a tactical idea. Though, for a brief moment on move 38, Yu had the opportunity to save the game.

Half a point behind Krush and Lee in clear fifth, Abrahamyan ground down a small edge from the middlegame into the ending vs. FM Ruiyang Yan. 

After a tough streak in the middle of the event, IM Nazi Paikidze's tournament hit a higher note today. Starting with her third move, Paikidze was clear about her all-or-nothing attacking intentions vs. WGM Thalia Cervantes: "Today I felt like playing very aggressively. I figured neither of us has anything to lose. Let's just play some crazy game."

U.S. Women's Championship | All Games Round 10

Round 10 Women's Standings

The 2023 U.S. Chess Championship is an invitational classical event that determines the chess champion of the United States. The 2022 U.S. Women's Championship is being held concurrently. Both events start on October 5 and have the same format: a 12-player, 11-round tournament with a $250,000 prize fund for the U.S. Championship and $152,000 for the U.S. Women’s Championship.

Previous Coverage:

• Caruana Defeats Niemann, Tokhirjonova Seizes Clear Lead
• Niemann Blunder Gives Caruana 1-Point Lead; Yip, Tokhirjonova Ahead By 2
• Winning Streaks Galore: Yip, Tokhirjonova, Lee Unstoppable
• Yip, Tokhirjonova Grow Lead With 4 Victories
• Nearly All Decisive Day: Caruana Pulls Off Hat Trick, Niemann Defeats Aronian
• Caruana Sole Leader After Long Grinding Win
• Mishra In Sole Lead, Becomes World's Youngest 2600+ Player
• On The Verge Of Blundering While Running Out Of Time, Niemann Defeats Leader
• Paikidze, Sevian Start As Sole Leaders