Exciting Results from The American Cup 2025: Nakamura and Lee Triumph, Elimination Matches Set for Friday
In a thrilling showdown at The American Cup 2025, GM Hikaru Nakamura emerged victorious over Fabiano Caruana in blitz tiebreaks to claim the Champions Final title and a $15,000 bonus. On the women’s side, IM Alice Lee managed to survive a nearly lost endgame against WGM Tatev Abrahamyan to secure the Champions Final win and a $9,000 bonus.
The Elimination Bracket also saw intense battles, with GM Levon Aronian defeating Sam Sevian and GM Irina Krush knocking out IM Nazi Paikidze. The winners managed to turn the tide in their favor after swindling victories out of seemingly lost positions in game one, ultimately winning their matches 2-0.
Friday will feature the Elimination Finals, with Caruana facing off against Aronian and Krush taking on Abrahamyan for a chance to move on to the Grand Finals. The action is set to begin on Friday, March 21, at 12:00 p.m. CDT / 17:00 CET / 9:30 p.m. IST.
In the Open Champions Final, Nakamura’s strategic play and ability to minimize mistakes helped him secure the win over Caruana, who put up a tough fight. Nakamura’s victory means he will have a rest day on Friday while Caruana battles Aronian for a spot in the Grand Final.
On the women’s side, Lee managed to avoid tiebreaks and clinch the title, despite admitting to not being satisfied with her play quality. Abrahamyan, on the other hand, will have another chance to compete for the title against a motivated Krush.
Aronian and Krush also emerged victorious in the Elimination Bracket, with both players showcasing resilience and strategic prowess to secure their wins. Aronian will face Caruana in the next round, while Krush will take on Abrahamyan in their quest for a spot in the Grand Finals.
The American Cup 2025 continues to showcase top-tier chess talent, with players vying for a share of the $250,000 prize fund. The tournament, which runs from March 15-24, promises exciting matches and fierce competition as players battle it out for the championship title.