Exciting Start to the U.S. Junior, Girls’ Junior, and Senior Championships: Round One Highlights!
The U.S. Junior, Girls’ Junior, and Senior Championships have kicked off with a bang, showcasing some of the most creative and strategic chess in recent memory. With 12 out of 15 games ending decisively in the first round, the competition is fierce and exciting.
In the Senior section, defending champion GM Melik Khachiyan displayed excellent technique in a queen-and-pawn endgame, while former champion GM Alex Shabalov impressed with a unique attack in the Caro-Kann Advanced. GM Larry Christiansen also secured a sharp win against GM Joel Benjamin, showcasing his aggressive play style.
In the Girls’ Junior section, WIM Iris Mou upset the tournament favorite IM Alice Lee in a pawn-grabbing Catalan. Newcomer Jasmine Su also caused an upset by neutralizing WFM Rachael Li’s Smith-Morra Gambit. The section is off to an exciting start with some unexpected results.
The Junior Open section stole the show with a brilliancy by GM Chris Yoo, who showcased inventive chess to win against GM Arthur Guo. Other notable performances include GM Andrew Hong’s domination on the light squares and GM-elect Andy Woodward’s exciting victory in a Sicilian Najdorf.
With predictions for champions already circulating, the excitement and anticipation for the rest of the tournament are high. Fans can follow the action on Chess.com and enjoy live commentary from GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Christian Chirila, and IM Nazi Paikidze on Twitch or YouTube. The U.S. National Championships promise to deliver inspiring chess over the next ten days.