Champions Open: Robson’s Clock Ambush, Aronian Comes Alive in Blitz

After another draw in classical, it all came down to the rapid game between Robson and So―with the latter in a must-win position. The players fought through the middlegame into the endgame as So kept trying to make progress.

Briefly, the winning opportunity that So had been striving for appeared on the board. Yet, in the heat of the moment with just minutes left on the clock, he overlooked his chance.

The match finished in a curious manner. Ahead an exchange in a drawn ending, So studied the board diligently, forgetting that he had only seconds left on the clock. Robson reflected on these final seconds:

As he got down to five seconds or so, I noticed from the way that he was looking at the board that he wasn’t paying attention to the clock at all. I was watching him and then I was thinking if he gets to four seconds and looks at the clock, then he’s going to make a move.

If not, I’m going to just keep looking at the board, and then hopefully he’ll keep looking at the board, and yeah, he just didn’t notice it at all.

I noticed from the way that he was looking at the board that he wasn’t paying attention to the clock at all.

―Ray Robson

After two more close draws in the classical and rapid games, Aronian came alive in the blitz playoff. In the first tiebreaker, he outplayed Caruana in the rook ending and finished with a clever tactical shot. 

In the last game, he closed out the match with an inspired dynamic sequence. This is our Game of the Day. Enjoy the following analysis by GM Rafael Leitao coming soon.

Lee won a third game in a row to win her match vs. WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova with a round to spare. Lee gained a vast advantage in the opening and didn’t let her opponent back into the game. She shared afterwards:

I thought this whole game went very smoothly. I think it’s just hard for her to play. It was very pleasant to play for White… her pieces are just undeveloped… Black doesn’t have any counterplay.

In a must-win position, IM Nazi Paikidze showed up ready to fight today. She showed aggressive intentions from the opening, storming her forces into Krush’s kingside.

In the rapid game, Paikidze opted for another fighting opening, but Krush was able to crash through on the queenside first. 

After the match, Krush shared her mindset: “I think what helps me is my expectation that things don’t always have to be easy. It’s not the end of the world when you’re going through some kind of trials.”

A happy Irina after winning her match against IM Nazi Paikidze to join IM Alice Lee in the final for the 3rd consecutive year.
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♟️#AmericanCup #stl #saintlouis #stchessclub #chessclub #event #final #hof #worldchesshalloffame #travel #chessplayer #interview@SabinaFoisor pic.twitter.com/ksAJWKCmyF

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) March 16, 2024

The eight-time U.S. Women’s Champion advances to the final for the third year in a row. Just like in the previous years, Lee is her opponent. In fact, Krush and Lee have faced each other four times over the last two American Cups―And Krush has won every match. Will the rapidly-improving prodigy be able to be able to flip the script this time around?

Meanwhile, So, Caruana, Paikidze, and Tokhirjonova now join the elimination bracket for their second chance in the tournament. 

Check out @sabinafoisor ‘s interview with IM Nazi Paikidze , @NaziPaiki where she discusses her future plans as a player and commentator. Nazi had a brilliant game in her match against GM Irina Krush, unfortunately for her she lost the second game and was eliminated from the… pic.twitter.com/W3R8EAoEbl

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) March 15, 2024

The 2024 American Cup is an over-the-board tournament in St. Louis featuring some of the strongest players in the United States. Split into Open and Women’s sections, the players will compete in a double-elimination knockout bracket while contesting for their share of the $400,000 prize fund. 

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