Round Seven Recap of 2024 U.S. National Chess Championships: Senior, Girls’ Junior, and Junior

The seventh round of the 2024 U.S. Junior, Girls’ Junior, and Senior championships may not have caused major shifts in the standings, but it was far from uneventful. With eight decisive games out of 15, the round was filled with excitement and surprises.

In the Senior section, GM Vladmir Akopian maintained his lead with a draw against GM Melikset Khachiyan. Meanwhile, GM Gregory Kaidanov fell to GM Jesse Kraai in a thrilling game that featured an exchange sacrifice and a promotion tactic. The round also saw GM Igor Novikov defeating IM Douglas Root in a sharp battle that ended with a king on e4 in the middlegame.

In the Girls’ Junior section, IM Alice Lee and FM Rose Atwell continued their winning streaks to stay in the lead. Lee defeated Jasmine Su in an endgame where she showcased exemplary technique, while Atwell triumphed over WFM Yassamin Ehsani in a roller-coaster game that featured multiple twists and turns.

The Junior Championship saw GM Andrew Hong emerging victorious in a long game against IM Jason Liang, while GM Balaji Daggupati outplayed NM Nicholas Ladan to secure a win. The round also featured a shocking result in the game between GM Arthur Guo and IM Jason Wang, where Guo’s mental lapse cost him the game.

With just two rounds to go, the competition is heating up in all three sections. Will Akopian maintain his lead in the Senior section? Can Lee and Atwell continue their winning streaks in the Girls’ Junior? And who will come out on top in the closely contested Junior Championship? Chess fans are eagerly awaiting the final rounds to see how the championships unfold.