Leaders Emerge in U.S. Junior, Girls’ Junior, and Senior Championships in St. Louis

The U.S. Junior, Girls’ Junior, and Senior championships are in full swing in St. Louis, with each tournament showcasing a clear leader after five rounds. In the Senior championship, GM Vladimir Akopian has pulled away from the pack with a dominant performance, securing a 4½/5 score and a significant lead. Meanwhile, in the Junior championship, GM Chris Yoo has been making waves with unorthodox play, leading the pack with a 4/5 score. And in the Girls’ Junior championship, the race for first place is tight, with Jasmine Su holding onto a slim lead despite a loss to WIM Omya Vidyarthi.

In the Senior championship, GM Julio Becerra Rivero has joined GM Larry Christiansen in a tie for second place, making a late tournament comeback a possibility. In the Girls’ Junior championship, defending champion IM Alice Lee has joined WIM Iris Mou and FM Rose Atwell in a three-way tie for second place, putting pressure on leader Jasmine Su. And in the Junior championship, IM Justin Wang has cooled off after a strong start, while GM Chris Yoo continues to impress with his fearless play.

With the tournaments heading into the final stretch, the competition is heating up, and anything can happen. Follow the action on the official website and Chess.com, and tune in for live commentary with GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Christian Chirila, and IM Nazi Paikidze on Twitch or YouTube. It’s shaping up to be an exciting finish to the 2024 U.S. National Championships.