Aronian Wins 2024 American Cup Without Losing A Single Game

GM Levon Aronian won his maiden title at the 2024 American Cup on Wednesday. Continuing to play in this tournament what he calls "adventurous chess," he defeated GM Wesley So only in the final rapid game—and with the black pieces. 

The Women's tournament continues on Thursday, as IM Alice Lee extinguished one of GM Irina Krush's two lives. The 14-year-old won the classical game to clinch the first match with a game to spare.

The American Cup Grand Final concludes on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 2:20 p.m. ET/19:20 CET/11:50 p.m. IST.

Grand Final:

• Open: Aronian Plays 'Adventurous Chess,' Clinches With Black
• Women's: Lee Turns The Tables, Dominates 1st Match

Open: Aronian Plays 'Adventurous Chess,' Clinches With Black 

Of 19 games in the tournament, the former world number-two (and currently number-20) hadn't lost a single one. He conquered the challenging format—playing all the time controls of classical, rapid, and blitz—and claimed the $90,000 first prize and a $15,000 bonus for winning the Champions Bracket. 

He also received a luxury Mongolian chess set, one which WGM Anastasiya Karlovich said he was already admiring at the opening ceremony, and a Tiffany bracelet. 

Just like the previous day, the players made a quick draw in the classical game and rushed to the rapid chess. Aronian confessed afterward: "I overprepared and I mixed up something early on. It was not actually a variation I was preparing for the game."

It was not actually a variation I was preparing for the game.

—Levon Aronian

They followed a So vs. GM Ding Liren game from 2017, but this time So found, or knew, an instant equalizer that hadn't been played before: 16...Nxe4! forced the draw.

So, for his part, said that he was alright with a quick draw in the first game, pointing out it's been a long nine days without any breaks. He also praised his opponent before their rapid game even happened. He said Aronian was playing "inspiring chess," and he would fall victim to it soon enough.

Wesley before his rapid game vs. Levon:

"I want to congratulate Levon for his excellent play in the tournament so far. He's played very inspiring chess this year, and as Garry [Kasparov] said, the chess world is always happier when Levon Aronian plays well."#AmericanCup pic.twitter.com/IWAfLtEbiI

— chess24 (@chess24com) March 20, 2024

The fireworks went off in game two, where the players went for a razor-sharp line of the Nimzo-Indian Defense. With Black, Aronian sacrificed two pawns for the initiative, although he went for an attack that was defensible. He quipped: "I generally like to look at some openings that don't really work. It's something I learned from Fabi!"

I generally like to look at some openings that don't really work. It's something I learned from Fabi!

—Levon Aronian

If there's one blemish in our Game of the Day, it is a win he missed with 18...Bb5!. Actually, he explained: "I saw ...Bb5, but I really underestimated it.... Now in the aftermath, [it] looks tremendously strong. Probably Black is winning on the spot."

18...Bb5 was apparently a missed win here, but Aronian played the what-could-be-more-natural move 18...Qh4? to initiate an attack that, objectively, doesn't pan out!https://t.co/hDmQEjbK10#AmericanCup pic.twitter.com/Ysw3shQNHu

— chess24 (@chess24com) March 20, 2024

So defended tremendously for many moves after that miss, but the game came to abrupt end after the one-move blunder 34.Qc5??—which "came as a very pleasant surprise" (Aronian), missing 35...Rd6!—and resignation. GM Rafael Leitao brings you all the details below.

On a more serious note about his "don't try this at home" choice of opening, Aronian answered: "I've been playing adventurous chess here and it brought me success, so I should stick to my guns."

I've been playing adventurous chess here and it brought me success, so I should stick to my guns.

—Levon Aronian

Later Levon said "We all analyze these suspicious lines, but most top players aren't crazy enough to play them. That's where I come in 😄" 😂 https://t.co/Dygmvum229

— Kostya Kavutskiy (@hellokostya) March 20, 2024

And asked about his next event, curiously, the 2744-rated grandmaster said he hasn't received invitations with his rating and will focus more on online chess for now. You can also check out the second interview below:

Big Congratulations to GM Levon Aronian , @LevAronian , for winning the grand final of the 2024 American Cup!!!!@SabinaFoisor had the chance to ask him a few questions. Enjoy!
♟️
♟️
♟️#americancup #stl #stlchessclub #chess pic.twitter.com/4tYM6u0ewW

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) March 20, 2024

Women's: Lee Turns The Tables, Dominates 1st Match

The previous day featured Lee's first time taking a lead against Krush in a match, and on Wednesday she won the full match. Because Krush hadn't lost a match in the Championship Bracket, she will have a second life on Thursday. It was also Krush's first time ever losing any match in the American Cup.

Trailing by a point, Krush played the ambitious Czech Variation of the Benoni Defense, immediately locking the position and setting the stage for a tense, closed, maneuvering game.

The downside: Black is a bit passive and White has more space. In fact, the engine gives a nearly decisive advantage for White out of the opening.

The advantage is sometimes not so easy to exploit in practice, as there's no way to blow Black off the board, and Krush had her chances. 18...Nh2!! would have been a beautiful find, in the style of GM Anatoly Karpov's 24.Ba7!! from this game, to plug up the h-file completely as her forces would slowly mass behind it. 

Krush had several chances to find that resource but missed it, and she was finally worse after 31...Qh6?. Ultimately, she sacrificed her queen for two minor pieces. Lee said: "I wasn't sure if she had a fortress, but that was for her to find," and indeed there was no defense as Lee blitzed out the winning moves, gaining time on the clock as she cruised to victory.

I wasn't sure if she had a fortress, but that was for her to find.

—Alice Lee

"I'm happy because Irina's always extremely difficult to beat," said Lee after the game. After losing their previous match in this event 2.5-0.5, Lee won with the same score.

The upcoming final match (literally the last one this time) will be their seventh final match in the American Cup overall. She also explained that Thursday is "a fresh start. Before this match, I was at a disadvantage because I had to win two [matches]. Now I won one, and I'll try to do my best tomorrow."

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:

• 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