Whereas the favorites lead within the Champions part, it was a day of comebacks within the Elimination Bracket on day 5 of the 2024 American Cup.
GM Levon Aronian went 2/2 vs. GM Ray Robson, placing the latter in a must-win place for each video games tomorrow. GM Irina Krush gained the lead vs. IM Alice Lee, although the prodigy saved the second sport within the final moments.
Within the Elimination part, GMs Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So made comebacks whereas WGM Jennifer Yu fought again from the biggest deficit to win the longest match in American Cup historical past.
Day six begins on Sunday, March 16, 2024, at 2:20 p.m. ET/19:20 CET/11:50 p.m. IST.
Champions:
Elimination
Champions Open: Aronian Converts Small Benefits To Rating Huge
It was Aronian’s means to transform small benefits that gained him a 2-0 lead vs. Robson. In each video games, Aronian was in a position to flip an additional pawn within the endgame into the total level. He mirrored:
Virtually, it is very tough to play these positions. They is likely to be drawn objectively, however I had lots of time, and Ray did not. That was essential in in the present day’s two video games… It was simply simpler for me to play. Even when I used to be not taking part in my finest, I used to be nonetheless managing to pose sensible issues.
Even when I used to be not taking part in my finest, I used to be nonetheless managing to pose sensible issues.
―Levon Aronian
Champions Girls’s: Krush Leads vs. Escape Artist Lee
Although Krush outscored Lee in the present day, the 14-year-old worldwide grasp confirmed her means to battle again in each video games. In sport one, Krush gained an enormous house benefit on the kingside―ripe with the chance to construct up an assault. But, Lee challenged her opponent’s management over that a part of the board, activating her forces and equalizing till she reached time stress.
Within the second sport, Krush once more gained a profitable place, however Lee snuck away when her opponent tried to arrange a mating internet.
Eliminations Open: Caruana, So Come Again With No Mercy
GM Leinier Dominguez scored first in sport two, ending the sport with a pleasant tactic.
Within the fourth sport, Caruana discovered himself in a must-win place in an excellent rook ending. As Caruana maneuvered and pressed on the kingside, Dominguez arrange a sturdy protection on that aspect of the board. On the vital second, although, the 40-year-old grandmaster forgot about his weak pawn on the queenside, and Caruana pounced.
Caruana’s intelligent comeback victory is our Sport of the Day. Take pleasure in the next evaluation by GM Rafael Leitao coming quickly.
After resurging within the fast, Caruana gained each the blitz video games, gaining the higher hand from two extra degree endgames.
GM Sam Sevian gained the primary spherical vs. So, beginning with an alternate sacrifice to wreck his opponent’s kingside and ending the sport with a perceptive tactical shot. After that, So made certain this was Sevian’s solely mark on the scoreboard, profitable the following three in a row. Can you discover how he gained sport two?
Black to maneuver.
Eliminations Girls’s: Yu Triumphs In 10-Sport Dogfight, Tokhirjonova Wins With A Spherical To Spare
Yu and IM Nazi Paikidze performed 9 decisive video games earlier than Yu prevailed within the tenth, profitable the longest match in American Cup historical past.
Although Paikidze finally misplaced her earlier match vs. Krush, GM Cristian Chirila shared that she was general joyful together with her efficiency yesterday due to her victory within the classical sport. Paikidze additionally began her match vs. Yu on a excessive word, profitable two video games in a row.
Yu replied in variety, profitable with each colours in video games three and 4. In every, she relied on her endgame expertise to transform an additional pawn.
Blunder alert! Black to maneuver and win!#AmericanCup pic.twitter.com/CbtrTuibXi
— Saint Louis Chess Membership (@STLChessClub) March 16, 2024
With a tied match, the blitz tiebreak started, and the opponents continued to commerce blows. Yu ran out of time within the fifth sport however adopted it with a win on demant. The 22-year-old took the lead within the subsequent sport after which let her flag fall in spherical eight.
After their one draw, Yu scored the ultimate win. Watch the final moments of their dogfight of a match beneath.
Afterwards, Yu shared her emotions about her upcoming rematch vs. Tokhirjonova:
I am simply joyful to consider it as a brand new begin to my match. I performed so badly in my match in opposition to her. I undoubtedly was fairly rusty getting in. I do not suppose all of it was off but, but it surely’s undoubtedly significantly better than it was within the first match. I am wanting ahead to having a contemporary begin.
I am simply joyful to consider it as a brand new begin to my match.
―Jennifer Yu
After a hard-fought first sport draw, WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova gained the following two in a row to knock out FM Zoey Tang. In sport two, she sacrificed the alternate for a middle pawn and finally created highly effective linked passers.
The 2024 American Cup is an over-the-board match in St. Louis that includes among 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:
