2022 U.S. Championship, Round 5: Leaders Emerge

The excitement continued unabated in St. Louis on Sunday as the players passed the first third of the U.S. Championships. The fight for first will become even fiercer as the tournaments progress; the less time there remains to catch up to the leaders, the more risks will have to be taken. As of now, two players can breathe easy on the Rest Day: GM Fabiano Caruana and WGM Jennifer Yu each lead their respective sections by half a point.

U.S. Open Championship

GM Awonder Liang was the man of the moment in St. Louis today, defeating GM Levon Aronian in a 147-point upset.

Liang was the only winner in a large group of players with 2.5, leapfrogging into a tie for 2nd place. His opening choice was the chess equivalent of putting new wine in an old bottle, as he displayed good preparation in a line known since the times of La Bourdonnais (1795-1840). An interesting tidbit: this line was debated 135 years ago by two ancestors of modern-day GM Jorden Van Foreest! Aronian’s initial reaction was fine, but then – perhaps confusing the move order – he erred and soon fell seriously behind in development. The demolition was quick and precisely executed:

The only other winner was GM Sam Shankland, who defeated GM Elshan Moradiabadi.

GM Sam Shankland prepares to move against GM Elshan Moradiabadi

courtesy SLCC / Lennart Ootes

The game was roughly level until Moradiabadi blundered on move 40. Shankland’s calculation as precise as usual, and he converted mercilessly.

GM Lenier Dominguez Perez obtained serious chances after GM Hans Niemann appeared to have confused something in the infamous Berlin endgame. However, Dominguez permitted his opponent to sacrifice an Exchange under favorable circumstances, and Niemann made a draw comfortably.

GM Christopher Yoo built up a winning position against GM Sam Sevian, but the latter defended resiliently and salvaged a draw. Likewise, GM Jeffery Xiong missed some chances and only drew from a good position against GM Alex Lenderman. As if continuing on the same theme, GM Ray Robson got pleasant play against GM Darius Swiercz’s hanging pawns, but played too impatiently and allowed his opponent to successfully simplify the position.

The top clash, between GMs Wesley So and Fabiano Caruana, also ended peacefully. As a result, Caruana maintains a half-point lead.

U.S. Women’s Championship

After yesterday’s logjam, a clear leader finally emerged in the Women’s Championship – 2019 Champion WGM Jennifer Yu.

courtesy SLCC / Bryan Adams

Playing against another former champion, WGM Sabina Foisor, Yu executed a clever queen transfer to gain a clear advantage. The evaluation jumped back and forth between winning and equal several times, but in the end, Yu persevered to win an opposite-colored-bishop ending in 71 moves.

In a battle of young stars, WIM Rochelle Wu defeated WIM Ruiyang Yan after the latter chose the wrong strategic plan in a Richter-Rauzer. Attempting to create weaknesses in the opponent’s camp, she instead compromised the safety of her own king, and a blunder shortly after time control sealed matters.

GM Irina Krush continued to gain steam with a convincing victory as Black against WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, her second win in a row.

WIM Alice Lee seemed to be on the defense for much of the game against WFM Sophie-Morris Suzuki, but in fact had a surprising, solitary chance to win. Unfortunately, it came on the dreaded 40th move, and the chance was missed. The game ended in a draw some moves later.

WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro tried unsuccessfully to break IM Nazi Paikidze’s endgame fortress for many moves (the latter was down an exchange). As far as I can tell, Cervantes could nevertheless have achieved a win with a timely activation of her king:

The best game of the Women’s section, however, came from WIM Ashrita Eswaran, who viciously attacked IM Anna Zatonskih’s king to force resignation in only 25 moves.