Exciting Finish at the 124th Annual U.S. Open Chess Championship in Norfolk, Virginia

The 124th Annual U.S. Open Chess Championship came to an exciting conclusion in Norfolk, Virginia, with the final round going down to the wire. Four players entered Sunday’s games with 7/8 scores, making it a tight race for the championship title. In the end, GMs Jianchao Zhou and Semen Khanin emerged victorious after intense games against GMs Mackenzie Molner and Fidel Corrales.

With both Zhou and Khanin finishing with impressive 8/9 scores, an Armageddon playoff was required to determine the ultimate winner. Khanin, playing with the white pieces and more time, faced off against Zhou, who had draw odds. The game quickly turned into a time scramble in a rook endgame, with Khanin eventually securing the win and claiming the title of U.S. Open Champion along with a $200 bonus.

Meanwhile, the top American finisher would earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Chess Championship. GM Awonder Liang, Mikhail Antipov, and Varuzhan Akobian all finished with 7½/9 scores, with Liang ultimately securing the qualifying spot after a creative and adventurous game against Antipov.

In the end, Liang, Antipov, and Akobian each received cash prizes for their performances, with full results available on the official tournament website. Stay tuned for a full report with annotated games to dive deeper into the thrilling conclusion of the 124th Annual U.S. Open Chess Championship.