Nakamura Wins The American Cup Grand Final, Lee Secures Women’s Title
The American Cup Grand Final concluded with a thrilling finish as GM Hikaru Nakamura emerged victorious after a solid draw with the black pieces against GM Fabiano Caruana. Nakamura claimed the $75,000 first prize along with a $15,000 Champion’s Bracket bonus, while Caruana took home $55,000.
In the Women’s American Cup, IM Alice Lee, aged only 15, secured her second consecutive title by defeating WGM Tatev Abrahamyan in a blitz playoff. Lee’s classical win and impressive performance in the blitz games earned her $40,000 plus a $9,000 bonus.
Nakamura’s strategic choice of 1.d4 against Caruana proved to be successful, with Nakamura employing a rare line that he calls “The Box.” Despite a tough task of winning on demand, Caruana couldn’t break Nakamura’s defense, leading to Nakamura’s second American Cup victory.
In the women’s event, Abrahamyan’s passive play in the Caro-Kann endgame allowed Lee to equalize and eventually win the classical game. Lee’s strong performance in the blitz playoff secured her the title once again.
The tournament, which took place from March 15-24, featured some of the strongest players in the United States and had a prize fund of $250,000. Fans can rewatch the exciting games and moments from the 2025 American Cup to relive the intense competition.