So Perfect Through Three Rounds in Caruana-Less U.S. Championship

Super GM Wesley So is off to a fast start in the 2020 US Chess Championship, jumping out to a perfect 3-0 to begin the national title event – and rightfully so. America’s No. 2 has wasted no time filling the void left by America’s No. 1 – that is: a certain Fabiano Caruana, absent from this year’s national championship because of a scheduling overlap with FIDE’s Candidates Tournament, originally rescheduled to resume next Sunday but since postponed.

Caruana’s sabbatical leaves an open door for So and 11 more of America’s best chess players. The 2020 US Chess Championship has been organized by the Saint Louis Chess Club as an online event this year, a round-robin tournament featuring all games with a Rapid G/25+5 time control. With three games to play per day, the crown tournament opened Monday and will conclude Thursday, dealing out a total prize fund of $150,000.

With his 3-0 start, So is the sole leader in front of a field that looked sharp in its first day of competition. Trailing him in second place is GM Ray Robson, who offered up a pair of brilliancies on Monday to score 2.5/3; and GM Jeffery Xiong, who fell right back into stride after warming up in the 2020 U.S. Junior competition just two weeks ago. GM Sam Sevian holds clear third with 2/3, and just behind is reigning US Chess champion GM Hikaru Nakamura, who’s threat actually increases under the Rapid format.

2020 US Chess Championship Standings after Day 1

courtesy SLCC / uschesschamps.com

Though the results speak for themselves, So did receive a bit of fortuitous assistance from his opponents on Monday. The Minnesota super GM was staring at an objective draw at the end of the first round, with two connected pawns against the bishop of GM Aleksandr Lenderman – though the endgame was fumbled in time pressure to gift So the extra half-point. And So was simply losing midway through the third round against GM Awonder Liang, first dropping a pawn with little compensation, but then complicating the Caro-Kann position enough to first equalize and eventually win with a pretty tactical shot over his young opponent.

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/jaIZDkSC"] [Date "2020.10.26"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Wesley So"] [Black "Awonder Liang"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2801"] [BlackElo "2640"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/broadcaster"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:01:52"] [BlackClock "0:00:09"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 3. f3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} c5 { [%emt 0:00:07]} 5. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:02:59]} 7. Bb5 {[%emt 0:01:48]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. f4 {[%emt 0:01:53]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 9. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qxc5 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 10. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 11. Bxd7+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} Bxd7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Qe3+ {[%emt 0:01:36]} 13. Qe2 { [%emt 0:02:38]} Qxf4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 14. g3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qh6 {[%emt 0:02: 47]} 15. h4 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 16. Qf2 {[%emt 0:01:03]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:01]} 17. Ne2 {[%emt 0:01:55]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 18. Nf4 {[%emt 0: 00:23]} g5 {[%emt 0:02:50]} 19. exf6 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Rxf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 20. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 21. Nxd7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rf7 { [%emt 0:00:12]} 22. g4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qg7 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 23. O-O-O { [%emt 0:00:08]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 24. Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00: 18]} 25. Rhe1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:01:16]} 26. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nxg4 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 27. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 28. Nxe6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qe5 {[%emt 0:04:45]} 29. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 30. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 31. Ng5 {[%emt 0:06:49]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 32. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 33. Rd7 { [%emt 0:01:04]} Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 34. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00: 19]} 35. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 36. h5 {[%emt 0:01:02]} Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 37. c4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 38. b3 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 39. bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf1+ {[%emt 0:00:31]} 40. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Rd7+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rf7 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 42. Rd6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Re7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 43. Rg6+ { [%emt 0:00:18]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 44. Kd4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nxh5 {[%emt 0:00: 08]} 45. Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 46. Ne5+ {[%emt 0:00:22]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 47. c5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 48. c6 { [%emt 0:00:14]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 49. Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00: 16]} 50. Nd7 {[%emt 0:01:41]} h3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 51. Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} h2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 52. Ng4+ {[%emt 0:00:01] Normal} 1-0 [/pgn]

Not entirely a day of opponent misfortune, So did produce this traditional world-class win over GM Alejandro Ramirez in the second round. So brought a Sicilian Najdorf into a fascinating endgame highlighted by an instructive 38. … g4! and subsequent pawn sac that allowed black the advance of two connected passers. So was still enjoying 10 minutes on his clock when Ramirez fell below two in the increasingly difficult position, and used that time advantage to produce 46. … Rg3 and a great repositioning of his rook. Despite a valiant hold, Ramirez saw his effective blockade cracked open and fell into a mating net.

2020 US Chess Championship Ramirez vs. So

courtesy SLCC / uschesschamps.com

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/a2eycik3"] [Date "2020.10.26"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Alejandro Ramirez"] [Black "Wesley So"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "2627"] [BlackElo "2801"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/broadcaster"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:00:15"] [BlackClock "0:02:58"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} d6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Be2 { [%emt 0:00:01]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:01] } 8. O-O {[%emt 0:00:01]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:01]} 9. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Be6 { [%emt 0:00:13]} 10. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 11. Nd5 {[%emt 0: 01:50]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12. a4 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 13. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Bxb4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} axb4 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 15. Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 16. Rac1 { [%emt 0:01:16]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 17. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Qxb5 {[%emt 0: 01:08]} 18. Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 19. c4 {[%emt 0:02:27]} bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 20. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:02:24]} 21. c4 { [%emt 0:00:03]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 22. f3 {[%emt 0:02:05]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:03] } 23. Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:24]} g6 { [%emt 0:00:43]} 25. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 26. Kd3 {[%emt 0: 00:29]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 27. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Ba5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 28. Bd7 {[%emt 0:01:23]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 29. Be6+ {[%emt 0:01:46]} Kg7 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 30. c5 {[%emt 0:01:26]} Rxc5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31. Rxb7+ { [%emt 0:00:01]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 32. Rb5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rc3+ {[%emt 0:00: 35]} 33. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rc5+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 34. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rxb5 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 35. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 36. Ra1 { [%emt 0:01:20]} g5 {[%emt 0:01:29]} 37. h3 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:01:35] } 38. Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:17]} g4 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 39. hxg4 {[%emt 0:01:17]} hxg4 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 40. fxg4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} e4+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 41. Ke2 { [%emt 0:00:05]} f4 {[%emt 0:01:02]} 42. g5+ {[%emt 0:04:59]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00: 42]} 43. g6 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 44. Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 45. b6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Rxg6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 46. Bh3 { [%emt 0:00:01]} Rg3 {[%emt 0:03:10]} 47. b7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 48. Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rb2+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 49. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:28]} e3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 50. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 51. Bg4 { [%emt 0:00:02]} Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 52. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bc3 {[%emt 0:01: 14]} 53. Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 54. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kd4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 55. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 56. Ra1 { [%emt 0:00:01]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 57. Rc1+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kd4 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 58. Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 59. Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 60. Bh5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Re1+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} 61. Kf3 { [%emt 0:00:01]} Rf1+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 62. Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rf2 {[%emt 0:00: 15] Normal} 0-1 [/pgn]

Robson, once the second-place finisher in the 2015 US Chess Championship, was perhaps the most impressive in 2020’s opening day. After drawing Ramirez in the first round, Robson went on to score two full points in brilliant fashion over Liang and 2018 US Chess Champion GM Sam Shankland in the third round.

In this classical Sicilian, Shankland was loaded up and ready to crack open white’s queenside castle, when Robson delivered a beautiful 21. e5 and opened a floodgate kingside attack. The move immediately sent Shankland running with 21. Kf8 to avoid the threat, but Robson continued by ransacking the naked kingside and producing a bonus queen on the board to bring victory.

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/CoVBXQ5E"] [Date "2020.10.26"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Ray Robson"] [Black "Sam Shankland"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B67"] [WhiteElo "2711"] [BlackElo "2735"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/broadcaster"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:01:10"] [BlackClock "0:00:22"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} d6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:49]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. Bg5 { [%emt 0:00:23]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 8. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9. f3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Nxd4 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 10. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 11. h4 {[%emt 0: 02:17]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. Kb1 {[%emt 0:02:55]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 13. g4 {[%emt 0:00:36]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:11]} 14. Qd2 {[%emt 0:01:53]} b4 {[%emt 0: 01:25]} 15. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 16. Ng3 {[%emt 0:03:32]} a5 {[%emt 0:05:54]} 17. Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 18. Bxf6 { [%emt 0:00:51]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 19. Nxf6+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} gxf6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 20. Bd3 {[%emt 0:01:29]} a3 {[%emt 0:05:44]} 21. e5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:03:55]} 22. exf6 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Ke8 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 23. b3 { [%emt 0:03:37]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:01:27]} 24. Bxh7 {[%emt 0:00:27]} d5 {[%emt 0:00: 15]} 25. h5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 26. Bg8 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 27. Bxf7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 28. Bg6 { [%emt 0:00:13]} Rxf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 29. f4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Raf8 {[%emt 0:01: 23]} 30. f5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 31. g5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Rxf5 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 32. Bxf5+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rxf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. h6 { [%emt 0:00:49]} d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34. h7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bxh1 {[%emt 0:00: 03]} 35. h8=Q {[%emt 0:00:20]} Be4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Qc6 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 37. Qc4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 38. bxc4 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39. Qxe5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Bxc2+ {[%emt 0: 00:07]} 40. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:01] Normal} 1-0 [/pgn]

2020 US Chess Championship Robson vs. Shankland

courtesy SLCC / uschesschamps.com

Perhaps unsurprisingly, both Xiong and Sevian looked in peak form on Monday. The two youngsters appear to have hit the ground running after essentially “warming up” in the 2020 U.S. Junior Championship two weeks ago, using the same rapid format and an equally high caliber of play. Xiong himself was fantastic in that event and by all rights had the Junior crown yanked from his fingertips in a thrilling Armageddon playoff, and Sevian too seems to be still cruising off a solid performance. After starting out that event with a dismal 1/3, Sevian caught fire to win five of his next six games and placed third, and came out strong against some top seeds on Monday, including a draw with Nakamura and a big win over GM Leinier Dominguez.

Xiong was the most convincing player in the first round Monday, leaning on an early advantage in this Reti over Liang and never looking back. Early action on the queenside produced a tricky b-pawn passer that Liang was never able to control. The unwitting hero pawn first accepted Liang’s desperation queen sac with 30. … bxc7, then went on to promote with check for the subsequent and simple 33. Qd8 to help Xiong shore up his position.

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/qC6DEJZN"] [Date "2020.10.26"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Jeffery Xiong"] [Black "Awonder Liang"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A48"] [WhiteElo "2750"] [BlackElo "2640"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/broadcaster"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:01:20"] [BlackClock "0:00:16"] 1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} g6 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. b4 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. e3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:01]} 6. Be2 { [%emt 0:00:15]} c6 {[%emt 0:03:34]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:04:18]} a5 {[%emt 0:03:43]} 8. b5 {[%emt 0:01:24]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 9. c3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Nbd7 { [%emt 0:01:43]} 10. a4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 11. Ba3 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12. c4 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 13. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 14. cxd5 {[%emt 0:04:27]} Nxd5 { [%emt 0:00:06]} 15. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 16. Bxc5 { [%emt 0:00:02]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 17. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:02: 38]} 18. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 19. Nc4 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 20. Nfd2 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Red8 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 21. Qc2 { [%emt 0:00:03]} e6 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 22. Nxa5 {[%emt 0:04:28]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:02: 27]} 23. Ndc4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 24. Nxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxa4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 25. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rxd1+ {[%emt 0:00:29]} 26. Rxd1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 27. Rd6 {[%emt 0:02:44]} Nc3 {[%emt 0:00: 09]} 28. b6 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Ra1+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 29. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Nxd1 {[%emt 0:03:35]} 30. bxc7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nxe3+ {[%emt 0:00:45]} 31. Bd1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nxc2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 32. c8=Q+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bf8 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 33. Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 34. h4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 35. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 36. h5 { [%emt 0:00:33]} Nxe3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 37. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Ra6 {[%emt 0: 00:47]} 38. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39. Qg5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 40. Qe5+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 41. Bc4 { [%emt 0:00:09]} Rd1+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 42. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rc1 {[%emt 0:00: 03]} 43. Qf4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 44. g4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 45. Qe5+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 46. Qb8+ { [%emt 0:00:26]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 47. Qb2+ {[%emt 0:00:01] Normal} 1-0 [/pgn]

The 2020 US Chess Championship will continue with rounds 4-6 on Tuesday, with first moves kicking off at 1:00 p.m. central. Spectators may watch the games along with expert commentary by GMs Yasser Seirawan and Maurice Ashely, along with WGM Jennifer Shahade on uschesschamps.com or on the SLCC YouTube and TwitchTV channels.