Exciting Start to the Fourth Edition of the Cairns Cup at Saint Louis Chess Club

The fourth edition of the Cairns Cup kicked off at the Saint Louis Chess Club with a bang, as players wasted no time in embracing the competitive spirit of the event. The first round saw multiple decisive games, with three players taking an early lead.

Former world champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk started strong with a win against Elisabeth Paehtz. GM Tan Zhongyi, the 2024 FIDE Women’s Candidates winner, also secured a victory against IM Alice Lee with a unique opening strategy. Additionally, last year’s champion IM Anna Zatonskih faced off against GM Mariya Muzychuk in a dynamic game that saw Muzychuk sacrifice two exchanges for the win.

As the tournament progressed, more decisive results followed in rounds two and three. Harika Dronavalli joined the leaders with a victory over Kosteniuk in round two, while Kosteniuk bounced back in round three with a win against GM Nana Dzagnidze.

After three rounds, four players are tied for the lead with a 2/3 score. Harika, Mariya Muzychuk, Tan, and Kosteniuk are all in contention for the title, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the tournament.

Stay tuned for more updates on rounds four through six, with live coverage available on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s Twitch channel. The competition is heating up, and the players are ready to battle it out for the prestigious Cairns Cup title.