All but two spots have been confirmed for the 2011 U.S. Championship, scheduled to be held concurrently with the U.S. Womens Championship in Saint Louis April 13-28, and two significant surprises have helped shape a dynamic field that will compete for more than $166,000 in prizes.
Two-time U.S. Champion GM Hikaru Nakamura, currently ranked number one in the U.S. by rating, declined his invitation to play in this years championship, citing a desire to focus on working toward his ultimate goal of one day winning the World Championship.
The other surprise: GM Yasser Seirawan, a four-time U.S. Champion and former World Championship contender, has accepted a wild card invitation. Seirawan, who hasnt played a major tournament since the 2003 Kings and Queens match in China, cited two reasons for his interest.
First, it is a great event, and I wanted to thank the good folks at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis for all their wonderful work, he said. Secondly, I got bored watching the young lions at play and felt the urge to join them.
Reigning U.S. Champion Gata Kamsky, who is scheduled to take on Bulgarian GM Veselin Topolav in a World Championship Candidates Match in May, will defend his crown. Kamksy said he felt the strong field at this year's U.S. Championship would serve as an excellent primer for his match against Topalov the following month.
The second wild card invitation was accepted by the GM-in-residence at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL), Ben Finegold. Ten players will compete for the final two invitations to the 2011 U.S. Championship at the Saint Louis Invitational, a round-robin tournament scheduled to be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis March 4-9.
In addition to the two invitations, the players will compete for more than $10,000 in prizes.
The 10 players competing for the final two spots are as follows:
GM Alejandro Ramirez
GM Gregory Kaidanov
GM Joel Benjamin
GM Julio Becerra
GM Eugene Perelshteyn
GM Ray Robson
GM Melikset Khachiyan
GM Jesse KraaiI
M Michael Brooks
FM Darwin Yang
The Saint Louis Invitational will overlap the Bill Wright Saint Louis Open, a strong open tournament that will be held at the CCSCSL March 4-6 and will feature more than $7,300 in prizes.
The field for the 2011 U.S. Championship is as follows:
GM Gata Kamsky
GM Alex Onischuk
GM Varuzhan Akobian
GM Yasser Seirawan
GM Yury Shulman
GM Jaan Ehlvest
GM Alex Stripunsky
GM Larry Christiansen
GM Robert Hess
GM Alex Shabalov
GM Alexander Ivanov
GM-elect Sam Shankland
GM Ben Finegold
IM Daniel Naroditsky
TBD: Winner of Saint Louis Invitational
TBD: Runner-up of Saint Louis Invitational
IM Irina Krush, who received an automatic invitation to the 2011 U.S. Championship for winning the 2010 U.S. Womens Championship, declined her invitation and instead elected to defend her title at the 2011 U.S. Womens Championship.
The field of eight women will be playing for a total prize fund of more than $60,000 and is as follows:
IM Irina Krush
IM Anna Zatonskih
IM Rusadan Goletiani
WGM Camilla Baginskaite
WIM Tatev Abrahamyan
WIM Sabina Foisor
FM Alisa Melekhina
WIM Iryna Zenyuk
In addition to the intense tournament action offered by these two prestigious events, tournament organizers will once again host a $10,000 Blitz tournament April 25 that will feature players from both the U.S. Championship and the U.S. Womens Championship.
Access to the tournament is free for annual members of the CCSCSL, or an all-access pass can be purchased for $100, which includes the following:
A ticket to the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony ($50 value). Access to all rounds and playoffs ($140 value). A year membership to the CCSCSL ($80 value). Individual tickets to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are available for $25 apiece, and individual rounds can be accessed for only $10/day, which includes refreshments, access to live grandmaster commentary and access to the tournament playing hall.
For more information, please contact:
Mike Wilmering
Communications Specialist
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
314.361.2437