2018 US Women's Chess Champion Nazi Paikidze

Nazi Paikidze

2018 and 2016 U.S. Women's Champion and International Master

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Birthday: October 27, 1993

City: Las Vegas, Nevada

Nazi Paikidze is known for being a dominant force at the US Women’s Championship. Out of the four times she’s competed, she’s a two-time winner (2016 and 2018), and her two “worst” performances were both 2nd place (tying in 2015 and clear 2nd in 2017). Paikidze was a notable prodigy throughout her childhood, winning 12 medals at the World Youth, World Junior, and European Junior Championships, including two World Youth gold medals in the U-14 Girls  in 2007 and U-16 Girls in 2008. Paikidze earned the International Master title in 2012 and moved to the U.S. to study at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and compete for its prominent chess team in 2013. One of Paikidze's most impressive victories was the last round of the 2016 US Women's Championship when she defeated the top seed, GM Irina Krush, in a beautiful attacking game with black to secure clear 1st.

[pgn][Event "US Women's Championship"]
[Site "St. Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2016.04.25"]
[Round "11.2"]
[White "Irina Krush"]
[Black "Nazi Paikidze"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2346"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1q1r1k1/3n2p1/6p1/BpbnPp2/5P2/5R1P/1PPN2B1/R3Q2K b - - 0 23"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.04.14"]23... g5 24. fxg5 Nxe5 25. Rf2 Ne3 26. Nb3 Nxg2 27. Rxg2 f4 28. Qc3 Nc4 29. Qf3
Qf5 30. Nxc5 Qxc5 31. b4 Qf5 32. Rf2 Re4 33. Rg1 Rae8 34. Bc7 Re3 35. Qxf4
Rxh3+ 36. Kg2 Ne3+ 37. Qxe3 Qg4+ 38. Qg3 Rxg3+ 39. Bxg3 Re3 40. Kh2 Qh5+ 41.
Kg2 Qxg5 42. Kh2 Re6 43. Rgg2 Qh5+ 44. Kg1 Qd1+ 45. Rf1 Qd4+ 46. Rff2 Re1+ 47.
Kh2 Qd1 48. Bf4 Qh5+ 49. Kg3 Rh1 50. Rh2 Rg1+ 51. Rhg2 Rh1 52. Rh2 Qg6+ 53. Kh3
Qe6+ 54. Kg3 Re1 55. Rhg2 Qg6+ 56. Kh2 Qe4 57. Bg5 Qxb4 58. Bf4 Qe7 59. Kg3 Re6
60. Kh3 Qd7 61. Kh2 Re4 62. Kg3 Qf5 63. Rf3 g5 64. Bxg5 Rg4+ 0-1[/pgn]