U.S. Women's Championship - Finished! Zatonskih Wins!
After a week of fantastic chess by America's top female chess talent, the competition has concluded. Anna Zatonskih clinched the title last night and finished her run today with another victory. Her performance over the last week was inspired and the challengers could do little to stop her. She finished the tournament today without dropping a single game. Camilla Baginskatie's return to tournament chess was fantastic to watch as well. She finished in second place and by defeating her final opponent prevented a 3 way tie for 2nd place.
I have had much fun over the last week meeting the players and watching the action go down live. Thanks for reading.
Update: Final Standings after 9 Rounds of great fighting chess.
| # | Name | USCF | FIDE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anna Zatonskih | 2492 | 2462 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | |
| 2 | Camilla Baginskaite | 2356 | 2317 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6½ | |
| 3 | Alisa Melekhina | 2253 | 2220 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5½ | |
| 4 | Irina Krush | 2490 | 2458 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5½ | |
| 5 | Tatev Abrahamyan | 2342 | 2275 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 6 | Sabina Foisor | 2379 | 2320 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3½ | |
| 7 | Rusudan Goletiani | 2437 | 2391 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3½ | |
| 8 | Iryna Zenyuk | 2271 | 2285 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 3 | |
| 9 | Battsetseg Tsagaan | 2265 | 2258 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 2½ | |
| 10 | Yun Fan | 2134 | 1935 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2½ |
Anna Zatonskih clinched her second consecutive U.S. Women’s Chess Championship by defeating Sabina Foisor in round eight of the 2009 event. With one round remaining, she has acquired a near-perfect 7.5 out of 8 points and will win the record $15,000 first prize. No other woman has more than 5.5 so Tuesday’s final round will be for posterity, not place.
Baginskaite and Krush have a lot to play for in the final round. Not only is there a lot of prize money still at stake ($12,000 is the second prize), but the top two finishers in the tournament will qualify for the next Women’s World Championship, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey. Zatonskih has already qualified, but if two or more women are tied for second after tomorrow’s round nine, a fast-paced tiebreaker will be played to decide who is awarded the second spot in the championship. " Written by FM Mike Kelin, Chess Life Correspondent.
IM David Pruess is getting his live commentary on at www.chess.com/tv
Hallo! Live @ www.uschesschamps.com you can follow the final rounds and all the competition for the cash. It's all about the cash this round. Irina Krush and Camilla Baginskatie are playing for the 2nd place $12,000 and a spot on the U.S> Women's Olympic team. Lotta money, exciting spot on a potentially gold medal team. I'm back in the basement of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center to follow it all and send you photos n' stuff.
Game Updates:
Photo Update:
Below some pairings and standings till I get some photos.
Camilla Baginskaite vs Sabina-Francesca Foisor
Tatev Abrahamyan vs Irina Krush
Alisa Melekhina vs Battsetseg Tsagaan
Rusudan Goletiani vs Iryna Zenyuk
Anna Zatonskih vs Yun Fan
| # | Name | USCF | FIDE | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anna Zatonskih | 2492 | 2462 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 7½ | |
| 2 | Irina Krush | 2490 | 2458 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | - | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5½ | |
| 3 | Camilla Baginskaite | 2356 | 2317 | ½ | 0 | ½ | - | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ | |
| 4 | Alisa Melekhina | 2253 | 2220 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | - | 1 | 4½ | |
| 5 | Sabina Foisor | 2379 | 2320 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3½ | |
| 6 | Tatev Abrahamyan | 2342 | 2275 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | Iryna Zenyuk | 2271 | 2285 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | ½ | 1 | 3 | |
| 8 | Goletiani Rusudan | 2437 | 2391 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | - | 1 | 0 | 2½ | |
| 9 | Tsagaan Battsetseg | 2265 | 2258 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 2½ | |
| 10 | Yun Fan | 2134 | 1935 | - | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2½ |
