Decisive Day 2 of Women's Championship Sees Krush, Yip Surging

Krush-Yip (photo Ootes)

Made perfectly clear was the powder keg situation being presented for the 2020 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship. Start with 12 of America’s best female players mixed into a strange, new chess world. Add a new format, increasing the pressure with a chaotic Rapid time control, then shake things up for three rounds per day. Toss in $100,000.

Stand back, and don’t say you weren’t warned.

This year’s unique battle for the American women’s national title has fuses lit on all sides, as the tournament passes its tipping point. After two days and six rounds of play, the contest that began even with draws that were particularly gruesome has now erupted into full bloody chaos.

Two out of three rounds were completely decisive on Thursday, leading to a thorough explosion in the standings that were already tight with pressure. Taking the lead at halfway is 7-time Women’s Champion GM Irina Krush, totaling 4.5/6 and holding a half-point lead over three players. One of them is three-time U.S. Junior Girl champion IM Carissa Yip, who updated that crown two weeks ago and surged on Thursday, scoring 2.5/3 to join WIM Emily Nguyen and IM Dorsa Derakhshani in second place.

2020 U.S. Women's Championship Standings after Round 6

Momentum was the difference-maker in the tournament’s second day of play: Clear were those who had it, as well as those who did not. Along with Yip, both Krush and Derakhshani also surged with 2.5/3 on Thursday, leaving a vacuum in the standings that pulled several others below.

Taking the worst of it was IM Annie Wang, who led the tournament after Day 1 but then suffered three consecutive losses in Day 2. She now sits in sixth place, a full two points behind Krush. Also suffering Thursday was defending Women’s champion FM Jennifer Yu, who had her 21-game unbeaten streak in the Women’s championships snapped by Krush in round 4, then lost again to Derakhshani in round 6.

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Women's Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/r9rRZwpB"] [Date "2020.10.22"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Irina Krush"] [Black "Jennifer Yu"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "2478"] [BlackElo "2426"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:00:16"] [BlackClock "0:00:13"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 6. e3 { [%emt 0:00:04]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 7. Bxd6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qxd6 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} 8. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:16]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} b6 { [%emt 0:01:56]} 10. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:58]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 11. O-O {[%emt 0: 01:00]} Nc6 $6 {[%emt 0:00:23] Inaccuracy. Bb7 was best.} (11... Bb7 12. b3) 12. dxc5 {[%emt 0:04:31]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 13. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Be6 { [%emt 0:04:12]} 14. Na4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 15. b3 {[%emt 0: 03:48]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 16. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:03:27]} 17. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Ng6 $6 {[%emt 0:03:32] Inaccuracy. f5 was best.} (17... f5 18. Qd2 Rac8 19. a3 Rb8 20. b4 cxb4 21. axb4 Rxb4 22. Nc5 Rb6 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Rc2) 18. Qc2 {[%emt 0:01:58]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:03:11]} 19. Bxg6 {[%emt 0:01: 08]} fxg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 20. Qxg6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qe7 $6 {[%emt 0:01:26] Inaccuracy. Rf6 was best.} (20... Rf6) 21. Qg3 $6 {[%emt 0:00:46] Inaccuracy. Nc3 was best.} (21. Nc3 Rf5 22. Nh4 Rg5 23. Qd3 Qf6 24. Qxa6 Rf8 25. f4 Rg3 26. e4 Bxh3 27. Qxf6 Nxf6) 21... Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 22. Qh4 {[%emt 0:04:14]} Qf7 $6 {[%emt 0:00:51] Inaccuracy. Qe8 was best.} (22... Qe8) 23. Nd4 {[%emt 0:00: 59]} Rg5 {[%emt 0:01:32]} 24. f4 {[%emt 0:01:32]} Rg6 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 25. Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:45]} Rf8 $2 {[%emt 0:01:56] Mistake. Rf6 was best.} (25... Rf6) 26. Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Bf5 $2 {[%emt 0:00:38] Mistake. Nxc5 was best.} (26... Nxc5) 27. Nxf5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} Qxf5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 28. Nxd7 $6 {[%emt 0:00: 02] Inaccuracy. e4 was best.} (28. e4) 28... Qxd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. Qh5 { [%emt 0:00:01]} Rd6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 30. Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00: 11]} 31. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qf5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 32. Rcd1 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Red8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 33. Qg4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 34. e4 { [%emt 0:00:14]} Rg6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 35. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rc8 $6 {[%emt 0: 00:10] Inaccuracy. Rf6 was best.} (35... Rf6 36. g3) 36. Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 37. R1d2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qc7 $6 {[%emt 0:00:01] Inaccuracy. Rxd2 was best.} (37... Rxd2) 38. e5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Kh7 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 39. Qe4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rcc6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 40. Rd6 {[%emt 0:00:03] Normal} 1-0 [/pgn]

2020 U.S. Women's Championship Yu vs. Krush

Yip has had the most dramatic surge from the middle of the pack, moving from sixth place after opening with three consecutive draws, and along with Krush remains undefeated through six rounds. As the championship tournament begins to take its shape, notable is Yip already having played the upper echelon in the current standings, including draws with Krush, Derakhshani and Yu, and this King’s Indian win over Wang in Thursday’s opening round 4. Yip’s toughest remaining test of the tournament perhaps comes in Friday’s round 8 against Nguyen, who has scrapped to a fully decisive 4-2 event.

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Women's Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/nKpBrK8w"] [Date "2020.10.22"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Annie Wang"] [Black "Carissa Yip"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E73"] [WhiteElo "2458"] [BlackElo "2493"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:00:12"] [BlackClock "0:00:38"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} g6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. e4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. Be3 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} e5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:32] Inaccuracy. c5 was best.} (6... c5 7. d5 e6 8. Nf3 exd5 9. cxd5 b5 10. e5 dxe5 11. Bxb5) 7. d5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Na6 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 8. g4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 9. f3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} a5 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 10. h4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 11. g5 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} Nfd7 {[%emt 0:01:13]} 12. Nh3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 13. Nf2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 14. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:23]} a4 {[%emt 0: 00:34]} 15. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:33]} Qb8 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 16. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00: 59]} dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 17. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 18. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Nc8 {[%emt 0:02:20]} 19. Rc1 {[%emt 0:01:16]} Nd6 { [%emt 0:00:11]} 20. Rhd1 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 21. Bf1 { [%emt 0:00:53]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 22. a3 {[%emt 0:01:08]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:02:02] } 23. Ka1 {[%emt 0:01:11]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 24. Nb1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Qd8 { [%emt 0:01:03]} 25. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 26. Rg1 {[%emt 0: 00:46]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 27. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 28. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Raa8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. Ka2 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Reb8 { [%emt 0:00:50]} 30. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 31. Rc2 {[%emt 0: 00:42]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 32. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:09]} Nb7 {[%emt 0:01:12]} 33. Nd3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 34. Nc1 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Bd6 { [%emt 0:02:30]} 35. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:49]} Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 36. Bd3 {[%emt 0: 02:19]} Be8 $6 {[%emt 0:01:13] Inaccuracy. c6 was best.} (36... c6 37. Kb1) 37. Qe3 $6 {[%emt 0:01:04] Inaccuracy. Nb5 was best.} (37. Nb5) 37... Bd7 $6 { [%emt 0:01:20] Inaccuracy. c6 was best.} (37... c6 38. dxc6) 38. Qd2 $6 { [%emt 0:00:23] Inaccuracy. Nb5 was best.} (38. Nb5) 38... Qd8 $6 {[%emt 0:00: 35] Inaccuracy. b5 was best.} (38... b5 39. Nxb5) 39. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 40. Be2 {[%emt 0:02:12]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 41. Bf1 $6 { [%emt 0:00:51] Inaccuracy. Kb1 was best.} (41. Kb1) 41... Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 42. Rg2 $6 {[%emt 0:01:06] Inaccuracy. Bd3 was best.} (42. Bd3) 42... Bh3 { [%emt 0:00:23]} 43. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Bxf1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 44. Rgxf1 { [%emt 0:00:01]} Nxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 45. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Na5 {[%emt 0:00: 11]} 46. Nxa4 $4 {[%emt 0:00:21] Blunder. f4 was best.} (46. f4 c4) 46... c4 $6 {[%emt 0:00:24] Inaccuracy. b5 was best.} (46... b5) 47. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 48. f4 $6 {[%emt 0:00:55] Inaccuracy. Qe3 was best.} (48. Qe3) 48... b5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:10] Inaccuracy. exf4 was best.} (48... exf4 49. e5 ) 49. f5 $4 {[%emt 0:00:20] Blunder. fxe5 was best.} (49. fxe5 Bxe5) 49... b4 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 50. fxg6+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} fxg6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 51. Rxf8 { [%emt 0:00:05]} Bxf8 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 52. Nb1 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qa4 {[%emt 0:01: 05]} 53. Qf3 $2 {[%emt 0:01:05] Mistake. Rf1 was best.} (53. Rf1 bxa3) 53... c3 $4 {[%emt 0:00:28] Blunder. bxa3 was best.} (53... bxa3 54. Nxa3 c3 55. d6 cxb2 56. Kxb2 cxd6 57. Rd3 Rb8+ 58. Ka2 Qb4 59. Qe2 d5 60. Qc2) 54. bxc3 $4 { [%emt 0:00:28] Checkmate is now unavoidable. b3 was best.} (54. b3 Qd7) 54... Nc4 $2 {[%emt 0:00:39] Lost forced checkmate sequence. Qc2+ was best.} (54... Qc2+ 55. Ka1 b3 56. Qxh5+ gxh5 57. g6+ Kh6 58. Rd2 b2+ 59. Ka2 bxc1=N+ 60. Ka1 Nab3#) 55. cxb4 $2 {[%emt 0:00:05] Checkmate is now unavoidable. Qd3 was best.} (55. Qd3 Nxa3) 55... Qc2+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 56. Ka1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qb2# { [%emt 0:00:06] Normal} 0-1 [/pgn]

Derakhshani has been a spectator’s delight throughout the event, including several ridiculously fighting draws and a pair of wins on Thursday highlighted by sacrifice and heavy tactical pressure. In round 4, she met IM Anna Zatonskih, the four-time U.S. Women’s champion headed in an opposite direction for this event, still winless through six rounds and only mustering a half-point on Thursday.

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Women's Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/2QeHNVyn"] [Date "2020.10.22"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Dorsa Derakhshani"] [Black "Anna Zatonskih"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C16"] [WhiteElo "2259"] [BlackElo "2458"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:02:45"] [BlackClock "0:00:15"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bb4 $6 {[%emt 0:00:03] Inaccuracy. Nf6 was best.} (3... Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Nxf6+ Bxf6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Nf3) 4. e5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qd7 $6 {[%emt 0:00:03] Inaccuracy. c5 was best.} (4... c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Qb1 Qd7 9. Bb5) 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:16]} 6. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. Qg4 { [%emt 0:00:03]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 8. Qg3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Ba6 $6 {[%emt 0:00: 20] Inaccuracy. Nc6 was best.} (8... Nc6 9. h4 Bb7 10. a4 O-O-O 11. Nh3 Qf7 12. Be2 Nge7 13. Bg5 Kb8 14. h5 Na5 15. Nf4) 9. Bxa6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Nxa6 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 10. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O-O $6 {[%emt 0:06:43] Inaccuracy. Kf7 was best.} (10... Kf7) 11. a4 {[%emt 0:01:07]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:01:40]} 12. a5 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 13. axb6 {[%emt 0:03:13]} cxb6 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 14. O-O {[%emt 0:02:36]} Na5 {[%emt 0:02:38]} 15. Rxa5 {[%emt 0:02:36]} bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 16. Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:05:11]} 17. Nf4 { [%emt 0:02:09]} Nh6 $4 {[%emt 0:04:23] Blunder. Ne7 was best.} (17... Ne7 18. Qxg7) 18. c4 {[%emt 0:00:55]} dxc4 $4 {[%emt 0:02:57] Blunder. Ka8 was best.} ( 18... Ka8) 19. Rb1+ {[%emt 0:01:35]} Ka6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 20. Nd3 {[%emt 0:01: 15]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 21. Nc5+ {[%emt 0:00:47]} Rxc5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 23. Qc3 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Qa4 { [%emt 0:00:10]} 24. Qb2 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 25. Bd6 {[%emt 0: 01:41]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 26. d5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} exd5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:28] Checkmate is now unavoidable. Qb4 was best.} (26... Qb4 27. Bxb4) 27. e6 { [%emt 0:00:17]} c3 $6 {[%emt 0:00:02] Checkmate is now unavoidable. Ng8 was best.} (27... Ng8 28. Qb8) 28. Qb8 {[%emt 0:00:42] Time forfeit} 1-0 [/pgn]

Derakhshani dazzled again in a round 6 win over Yu, later sharing that she had brought her preparation 13 moves into this early sacrifice for a kingside attack. The endgame features Yu’s naked king suffering from the effects of Alekhine’s Gun, loaded several times by Derakhshani.

2020 U.S. Women's Championship Yu vs. Derakhshani

[pgn][Event "2020 U.S. Women's Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/ubua2nQI"] [Date "2020.10.22"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Dorsa Derakhshani"] [Black "Jennifer Yu"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2259"] [BlackElo "2426"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/broadcaster"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+5"] [WhiteClock "0:02:04"] [BlackClock "0:00:11"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. a3 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} Bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 5. dxc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:51]} 6. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 7. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:46]} g5 {[%emt 0:07:00] } 8. Nxg5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Bxg5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Kg7 { [%emt 0:00:41]} 10. h4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} d6 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 11. h5 {[%emt 0:01: 37]} Be6 {[%emt 0:01:33]} 12. f4 {[%emt 0:01:33]} exf4 {[%emt 0:03:19]} 13. Rh4 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:01:22]} 14. Rxf4 {[%emt 0:01:21]} Rh8 {[%emt 0: 01:19]} 15. g4 {[%emt 0:03:18]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 16. Qd4 {[%emt 0:01:45]} c5 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 17. Qf2 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Rag8 {[%emt 0:03:14]} 18. Bh3 { [%emt 0:03:32]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 19. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 20. Rxf6 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Bxg4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 21. Bxg4 {[%emt 0:00: 19]} Rxg4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 22. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rxh5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 23. Rfxd6 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Qxe4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 24. Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Qe7 { [%emt 0:00:29]} 25. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Rg7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 26. Kb1 {[%emt 0: 00:09]} Re5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 27. Rh6 {[%emt 0:00:49]} Ke8 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 28. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 29. Rd6 {[%emt 0:01:04]} Qe7 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 30. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 31. Rd8+ { [%emt 0:00:10]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 32. Rd7+ {[%emt 0:00:03] Normal} 1-0 [/pgn]

The 2020 U.S. Women’s Championship is part of a five-tournament series for national titles being held online this year by the Saint Louis Chess Club, and features a $100,000 prize fund with the winner taking $25,000. Already awarded is this year’s U.S. Junior Girls title to Yip, as well as the U.S. Junior title to GM John Burke, and the U.S. Senior title to GM Joel Benjamin. The 2020 U.S. Chess Championship will begin next Monday, following the conclusion of the Women’s tournament on Saturday.

The 2020 U.S. Women’s Championship continues with rounds 7-9 on Friday, with first moves at 1:00 p.m. central. Spectators can watch the games along with expert commentary by GMs Yasser Seirawan and Maurice Ashley, and WGM Jennifer Shahade on uschesschamps.com or the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch TV channels.