14-Year-Old Alice Lee Wins Women's American Cup In Blitz Playoffs

14-year-old IM Alice Lee is the first player ever to emerge from the Elimination Bracket to win the American Cup. She defeated GM Irina Krush for the second time on Thursday, in the blitz playoffs after four decisive rapid games, to win her maiden title at the Women's 2024 American Cup. 

She wins $40,000, a luxury chess set, and a Tiffany bracelet. In its three editions, every Grand Final featured these same two players, but this is the first time that Lee has won it. A ChessKid Ambassador, she has been on an amazing chess journey as she has accomplished significant achievements, including her third IM norm last year, Her journey into the elite status as a chess player was even celebrated on the U.S. TV program Good Morning America less than a year ago.

Concurrently, there was a seven-round blitz event, dubbed "OTB Titled Tuesday" by IM Kostya Kavutskiy. GM Fabiano Caruana won to claim $5,000.  

🏆 Congratulations to 14-year-old IM Alice Lee on winning a breathtaking Grand Final against the two-time champion GM Irina Krush!

Lee won two matches against Krush to earn $40,000 and her first #AmericanCup title! 👏 🎉 pic.twitter.com/QOkVZLBqjb

— chess24 (@chess24com) March 21, 2024

Women's Grand Final Reset: Krush Collapses After Failing To Draw On Demand

Previously in the tournament, Krush won their first match 2.5-0.5 in the Championship Final, while Lee rebounded with the same score on Wednesday in the Grand Final. Their third match—and seventh in the last three years—decided this year's champion.

There were zero draws in the six games, and the match could have gone either way. After taking the lead in game three, Krush would have secured victory if she had drawn with the white pieces. After losing a short game four, though, she collapsed and lost both games in the blitz playoffs. 

Game one was a brutal display of strength from the eight-time U.S. women's champion. "She [Lee] never got out of the opening," said GM Yasser Seirawan. Lee never quite got her queenside developed, and when she moved her queen three times, Krush made the maximum of three free moves.

She [Lee] never got out of the opening.

—Yasser Seirawan 

Lee matched Krush's resilience in the very next game. As the youngster built up a "Pillsbury attack," with a knight on e5 supported by pawns on f4 and d4, the grandmaster sunk to three minutes against nine—and lost a pawn with 25...Rab8? 16.Nxe4.

With more time, Krush could have found the only move 25...Nxe5!, counterintuitive because it seemingly improves White's pawn structure, but it removes an intolerable, centralized knight and releases Black's cramped position.

GM Rafael Leitao goes over the full game below. 

Krush won game three with splendid technique in the endgame, and it would have been our Game of the Day if she had managed to draw the next one. After White's opening was neutralized and queens were traded, Lee made one passive move, 28.Rdc1?, and was doomed to defend without counterplay for the rest of the game. 

Game four is one that Krush will want to forget. Needing just a draw, she blundered a pawn on move 12, later crawled back into the game, only to blunder again with 20.Bc6??, losing her queen a few moves later. This had nothing to do with chess skill or understanding, just nerves.

After these four decisive games and yet an even 2-2 score, Seirawan exclaimed: "This is like a titanic back and forth. You land a blow, and I land a blow!" In the end, of course, one player had to win.

This is like a titanic back and forth. You land a blow, and I land a blow!

—Yasser Seirawan

The blitz playoff was as messy as you might expect. The pressure was high, and the clock times were even lower than before (3+2 time control now). Psychologically, Krush seemed to collapse after the last loss with the white pieces, even though she nearly came back once more in game six.

The two-time champion wasn't able to keep up with the teenager in the first game. The losing move, 27.a4?, was more a product of being under 10 seconds against a full minute than anything else. Lee instructively forced a winning endgame with 27...Qb4!, taking over the c-file.

"The first blitz game went pretty well. I always felt like I had a comfortable position and a comfortable time advantage," said Lee. "And then the second game was completely crazy, so I'm just really happy that I won, and I didn't have to then play another blitz match."

And then the second game was completely crazy, so I'm just really happy that I won, and I didn't have to then play another blitz match.

—Alice Lee

It all came down to a wild time scramble. Critically, in the end, Lee blundered a full bishop with 27.Bb5??, and after finding 27...Nf3+, Krush was on her way to winning on demand and continuing the match. Alas, the nerves and exhaustion got the better of her, and, well, we all know what it's like to lose a winning position—and most of us don't reach the high stage these players have.

The prodigy from Minnesota proved to have that last burst of energy.

Shaking hands with Rex Sinquefield, Lee received a luxury Mongolian Chess Set and a Tiffany bracelet. She also had a minute with the microphone, which she used to thank those around her.

I'd like to thank everybody for their support: my family, my coaches, my friends, and especially the people who made this event happen. A big thanks to the Saint Louis Chess Club and Rex, of course. I'd like to thank the production team and all the players and everybody who has been here and made this event a wonderful event. Thank you very much and also thank you to everybody who's watching.

In an interview with WGM Sabina Foisor, Lee shared more personal thoughts and feelings: "I definitely have not fully let it soak in that I won because this match was really crazy and it could have gone either way." She also shared her thoughts about the match, the tournament format, and what she'll be up to next, which you can listen to below.

I definitely have not fully let it soak in that I won because this match was really crazy and it could have gone either way.

—Alice Lee

Big congratulations to IM Alice Lee for winning the grand final of the 2024 American Cup.@SabinaFoisor had the chance to ask her a few questions. Enjoy!
♟️
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♟️#americancup #stl #stlchessclub pic.twitter.com/e9DOKRW8n4

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) March 21, 2024

Of course, we just had to include this beautiful photograph of Lee with her family outside the World Chess Hall of Fame.

By winning the Championship Bracket, Krush earned an extra $9,000 on top of second-place prize. Thus, she earned almost as much as the tournament winner.

Concurrent with the Women's Grand Final, the American Cup participants and several titled guests duked it out in a blitz tournament of seven rounds.

OTB Titled Tuesday happening now in Saint Louis! #AmericanCupBlitz

How many grandmasters can you name? 🧠 pic.twitter.com/o2tvsfGDZl

— Kostya Kavutskiy (@hellokostya) March 21, 2024

The special guests included IM Eric Rosen, GM Daniel Naroditsky, and several local GMs, many of whom are university students. Top-seed Caruana won the event and pocketed $5,000 after about two hours of blitz games. An afternoon well spent!

(See full standings here.)

The 2024 American Cup was an over-the-board tournament in St. Louis featuring some of the strongest players in the United States. Split into Open and Women's sections, the players competed in a double-elimination knockout bracket while contesting for their share of the $400,000 prize fund. 

Previous Coverage:

• Aronian Wins 2024 American Cup Without Losing A Single Game
• Lee Seizes 1st-Ever Lead Vs. Krush
• So, Lee Rise To Grand Finals
• Aronian, Krush Triumph In Champions Bracket
• Aronian Sweeps, Krush Leads, Comebacks For Caruana, So, Yu
• The Finals Are Set: Aronian vs. Robson, 5x Krush vs. Lee
• Krush, Lee Storm To 2-0; Eliminations Begin
• Veterans Laugh Last: Aronian Wins Blitz Playoffs, Krush Recovers In Women's
• Caruana, Lee, Tokhirjonova, Paikidze Start With Double Wins
• Caruana, So, Krush, And Lee Headline 2024 American Cup