GMs Levon Aronian and Ray Robson prevailed towards their respective world high ten opponents, GM Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So, on day 4 of the 2024 American Cup. They advance to satisfy within the Finals.
Within the Girls’s part, GM Irina Krush and Alice Lee every received and are heading into their fifth consecutive American Cup Finals matchup.
Day 5 begins on Saturday, March 15, 2024, at 2:20 p.m. ET/19:20 CET/11:50 p.m. IST.
Champions:
Champions Open: Robson’s Clock Ambush, Aronian Comes Alive in Blitz
After one other attract classical, all of it got here all the way down to the fast recreation between Robson and So―with the latter in a must-win place. The gamers fought via the middlegame into the endgame as So stored attempting to make progress.
Briefly, the profitable alternative that So had been striving for appeared on the board. But, within the warmth of the second with simply minutes left on the clock, he ignored his probability.
The match completed in a curious method. Forward an trade in a drawn ending, So studied the board diligently, forgetting that he had solely seconds left on the clock. Robson mirrored on these ultimate seconds:
As he received down to 5 seconds or so, I seen from the best way that he was trying on the board that he wasn’t being attentive to the clock in any respect. I used to be watching him after which I used to be considering if he will get to 4 seconds and appears on the clock, then he’s going to make a transfer.
If not, I’m going to only maintain trying on the board, after which hopefully he’ll maintain trying on the board, and yeah, he simply didn’t discover it in any respect.
I seen from the best way that he was trying on the board that he wasn’t being attentive to the clock in any respect.
―Ray Robson
After two extra shut attracts within the classical and fast video games, Aronian got here alive within the blitz playoff. Within the first tiebreaker, he outplayed Caruana within the rook ending and completed with a intelligent tactical shot.
Within the final recreation, he closed out the match with an impressed dynamic sequence. That is our Sport of the Day. Take pleasure in the next evaluation by GM Rafael Leitao coming quickly.
Waiting for the ultimate, Aronian shared his ideas on his upcoming opponent, Robson:
He’s an incredible expertise… Earlier than I got here to the states, I knew him, and I felt: there’s this man falling into time bother for no explicit purpose. He’s an excellent participant, however I didn’t actually know him so properly. As soon as I received to play right here and see him play, I can actually simply share my admiration.
If he was extra formidable, I believe he could be a high participant. Even now, he’s one of many high gamers in the US. He has nice potential as a result of he has a pure really feel for the sport.
He has nice potential as a result of he has a pure really feel for the sport.
―Levon Aronian
Champions Girls’s: Lee Wins Third Sport in a Row, Krush Fights Off Paikidze’s Comeback
Lee received a 3rd recreation in a row to win her match vs. WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova with a spherical to spare. Lee gained an unlimited benefit within the opening and did not let her opponent again into the sport. She shared afterwards:
I assumed this entire recreation went very easily. I believe it’s simply arduous for her to play. It was very nice to play for White… her items are simply undeveloped… Black doesn’t have any counterplay.
In a must-win place, IM Nazi Paikidze confirmed up able to battle right now. She confirmed aggressive intentions from the opening, storming her forces into Krush’s kingside.
Within the fast recreation, Paikidze opted for one more preventing opening, however Krush was capable of crash via on the queenside first.
After the match, Krush shared her mindset: “I believe what helps me is my expectation that issues do not at all times need to be simple. It isn’t the tip of the world once you’re going via some sort of trials.”
A cheerful Irina after profitable her match towards IM Nazi Paikidze to affix IM Alice Lee within the ultimate for the third consecutive 12 months.
♟️
♟️
♟️#AmericanCup #stl #saintlouis #stchessclub #chessclub #occasion #ultimate #hof #worldchesshalloffame #journey #chessplayer #interview@SabinaFoisor pic.twitter.com/ksAJWKCmyF
— Saint Louis Chess Membership (@STLChessClub) March 16, 2024
The eight-time U.S. Girls’s Champion advances to the ultimate for the third 12 months in a row. Similar to within the earlier years, Lee is her opponent. Actually, Krush and Lee have confronted one another 4 instances during the last two American Cups―And Krush has received each match. Will the rapidly-improving prodigy have the option to have the ability to flip the script this time round?
In the meantime, So, Caruana, Paikidze, and Tokhirjonova now be a part of the elimination bracket for his or her second probability within the event.
Take a look at @sabinafoisor ‘s interview with IM Nazi Paikidze , @NaziPaiki the place she discusses her future plans as a participant and commentator. Nazi had an excellent recreation in her match towards GM Irina Krush, sadly for her she misplaced the second recreation and was eradicated from the… pic.twitter.com/W3R8EAoEbl
— Saint Louis Chess Membership (@STLChessClub) March 15, 2024
The 2024 American Cup is an over-the-board event in St. Louis that includes a number of the strongest gamers in the US. Cut up into Open and Girls’s sections, the gamers will compete in a double-elimination knockout bracket whereas contesting for his or her share of the $400,000 prize fund.
Earlier Protection:
