I know, right? Hou Yifan was mentioned as participating during an online broadcast of Wijk aan Zee, but I have zero clue where they picked that information up from.
Does anyone know who is playing in the 2019 Cairns Cup?
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Jan 25, 2019
0
#3
It looks like the field is up now. I don't see Hou Yifan listed, but it looks like a good event regardless!
Kosteniuk and Gunina are the class of the field. Many of the other top female players are participating in the Gibratar Open, which doesn't end until Thursday, so, I am guessing that they didn't want to endure the jet lag and then have to compete next week. Sadly, no Chinese players and neither of the Muzychuk sisters. The two American participants will be Krush and Zathonskih, both of whom, have remarked that they no longer are ardent in their pre-tourney preparation, so, I expect them not to do too well. And reigning US Women's Champion, Nazi Paikidze, only plays in one tournament a year, it appears. And, the US "Teen Phemons" (Jennifer Yu, Carissa Yip, Annie Wang and Gorti) are still too low rated to be considered. Besides Koseniuk, the biggest attraction is Zhansaya Abdumalik, the 19 year old "rising star" from Kazakhstan.
Jan 29, 2019
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#5
The Cairns Cup? For one delightful moment, I thought that the North of Australia had embraced Chess. Still, they did have Croc Dundee once, and they put Lobster on the Barbeque.
Hope you all have a great time in the Chess Capital of the US of A.
Anyone in Cairns, Australis want to be my friend, that is if there are any Chess players still uneaten by alligators and whatall up there.
Jan 29, 2019
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#6
Nazi Pakidze isn't the current champ; that honor belongs to Sabina Foisor who's been playing in the US women's tournament for a long time and placing in the middle. She also got to have the best storyline of the tournament since she won directly following her mother's death and earned a moment of glory to send up to wherever the dead have gone.
The contestants are up on the website, and there are some GMs in the field that haven't been mentioned: Harika Dronvali, Nana Dzagnidze, Marie Sebag, and Bela Khotenashvili (two Georgians - perhaps Paikidze doesn't want to get destroyed by her former classmates 
).
The lack of Muzychuks is disturbing, but it's shaping up to be a pretty promising tournament. And a great opportunity for Americans to get acquainted with a lot of awesome chicks they haven't heard of.
AlisonHart wrote:
Nazi Pakidze isn't the current champ; that honor belongs to Sabina Foisor who's been playing in the US women's tournament for a long time and placing in the middle. .....
Foisor was US Women's Champ in 2017. Paikidze first won the title in 2016 and then reclaimed it in 2018.
Jan 30, 2019
0
#8
You're right.....I've seen so many of these with the same participants that they're starting to bleed together in my mind.
Have to wonder why Sabina was the one who represented the U.S. at the 2018 knockout championships. Maybe Nazhi only plays when she thinks she can get the big money?
AlisonHart wrote:
...... Maybe Nazhi only plays when she thinks she can get the big money?
Nazi just doesn't play chess anymore. Over the last 18 months, the only OTB tournament she has played was the 2018 US Women's Championship. In fact, her USCF membership expired last fall.
DamonevicSmithlov wrote:
Im watching it now. I guess I should go and do something productive. Anyway, great idea to have this tournament, I hope they can make it like the Sinquefield. They need to get more top players though. I read somewhere that they started so late that some players who would've been in it didnt get their visas/travel arrangements in order in time. Next year hopefully it'll be organized sooner to avoid that.
The biggest problem was that the Cairns Cup was not announced and finalized until late last fall, after some of the top players had made plans to play in the Gibraltar Open, which concluded on January 31st. But, even considering that, the field is a strong one. I assume that the USA's Krush and Zatonskih would have had invitations regardless. And Zhansaya Abdumalik (one of the lower rated players) is seen as an up and coming star, so she was probably one of the original invitees. The only notable players missing are the Muzychuk sisters, Anna and Mariya, who played at Gibraltar; K. Lagno, and representatives from China (Ju Wenjun being the most notable) who also played at Gibraltar. The Georgian women that are playing are both strong contenders. I think the only "replacements' for those missing are Paehtz and Sebag, but even they are in the top 25.
Hello,
I noticed that the 2019 Cairns Chess Cup is going to start on February 5. This is a tournament in St. Louis that features the top female players in the world. However, when I go to the official website, all I see is the schedule. I was wondering, am I looking in the wrong place? When will it become known who is playing in the event?
Thanks!