So, Lee Rise To Grand Finals
GM Wesley So and IM Alice Lee have risen out of the Elimination Bracket to challenge GMs Levon Aronian and Irina Krush in the Grand Finals of the 2024 American Cup.
After a brilliant game by GM Ray Robson to take the lead, So won on demand to reach a blitz playoff and then flagged Robson twice. Lee regained confidence after a loss to win the last three games vs. WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova.
The American Cup Final begins on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 2:20 p.m. ET/19:20 CET/11:50 p.m. IST.
Elimination
Elimination—Open: So Turns The Tables On Robson
This was So's chance at a rematch. Robson originally knocked him out of the Champions Bracket.
Robson took the lead in game two. At the pivotal moment, he found an earth-shattering rook lift, boosting his kingside siege while So's forces were temporarily tangled. The five-time Puzzles world champion finished the game with a series of dazzling attacking shots.
Robson's virtually flawless victory is our Game of the Day. Enjoy the following analysis by GM Rafael Leitao.
Unfazed by his opponent's brilliancy, So won on demand―a specialty of his in this tournament―with keen strategic play in game four, triggering a playoff.
In the blitz tiebreaker, So kept his promise from the day before―he flagged Robson twice. Watch the thrilling finale of their first blitz duel.
After his victory, So reflected:
Ray has really improved a lot. He's improved tremendously. Maybe a decade ago, I was the clear favorite in rapid time control, but now it's no longer clear because he's improved a lot in terms of skill. So it's very nice to get revenge.
He's improved a lot in terms of skill. So it's very nice to get revenge.
―Wesley So
So and Aronian are the last players standing. They will face off in the Grand Final for the fate of the 2024 American Cup.
Elimination—Women's: Lee Regains Confidence To Spur Comeback
Lee vs. Tokhirjonova was also rematch from their earlier matchup in the Champions section. In a messy first game, Lee made the last mistake, hanging her queen in a winning position.
The aspiring prodigy came back strong in game two, building up a powerful and soon unstoppable attack in the queenless middlegame.
In the next game, Lee took the lead with a tactical insight. Can you find it?
White to move.
In the double-edged last game, Lee clinched the match by using tactical play to fight off Tokhirjonova's counterattack.
Afterward, Lee shared: "I was pretty unhappy after losing the first game. Then, I was White for the next two games, which helped. Thinking about it doesn't help, so once I was able to win the next game, then I gained my confidence back."
Once I was able to win the next game, then I gained my confidence back.
―Alice Lee
For the third year in a row, the Grand Final is down to Krush vs. Lee. Will Krush be a three-time winner? Or will the third time be a charm for Lee?
How to watch?
The games of the American Cup can be found on our live events platform: Open | Women. The rounds start each day at 2 p.m. ET/19:00 CET/11:30 p.m. IST.
The broadcast was hosted by GM Yasser Seirawan, WGM Anastasiya Karlovich, and GM Cristian Chirila.
The 2024 American Cup is 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 will compete in a double-elimination knockout bracket while contesting for their share of the $400,000 prize fund.
Previous Coverage:
- 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
Vanessa West is a National Master, a chess teacher, and a writer for Chess.com. In 2017, they won the Chess Journalist of the Year award.
You can follow them on X: Vanessa__West
