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Nakamura, Krush Crowned 2015 U.S. Chess Champions

After two weeks of intense competition, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) crowned Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, 27, the 2015 U.S. Chess Champion and Grandmaster Irina Krush, 31, the 2015 U.S. Women’s Chess Champion.

Krush hails from Brooklyn, N.Y. and Nakamura calls Saint Louis home.

The win is familiar territory for Krush, who claimed her fourth-consecutive title in the women’s tournament. This was Nakamura’s first return to the U.S. Championship since winning in 2012.

The prestigious tournaments are part of the “Triple Crown” of American chess championships held in Saint Louis each year. The third event is the 2015 U.S. Junior Closed Championship, a tournament for players under the age of 21, which will take place at the CCSCSL July 6-16.

Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura

“Certainly, I think I’m relieved. When you play tournaments like this, it’s much different than playing against the top players in the world in that you’re pretty much forced to have to try and win every game, regardless of color,” said Nakamura, who is currently ranked the No. 3 player in the world. “If you draw a top player, it’s not a big deal — maybe you lose three rating points. So that made it quite stressful, having to try and win every single day. With one rest day especially, and playing 11 rounds, it’s quite tiring. But that being said, it worked out, so I can’t complain.”

Despite his absence from the last few U.S. Championships, Nakamura has remained the No. 1 ranked American for nearly five years. Along with this U.S. title, the fourth of his career, Nakamura also earns the $45,000 top prize.

GM Ray Robson, a player from Webster University in suburban Saint Louis, earned $30,000 for second place. This year’s U.S. Championship prize fund totaled $175,000.

Krush, the only Grandmaster in the Women’s field, had trailed in the standings for much of the tournament, but closed with five straight wins to take the lead and eventually the title. She also wins the top prize of $20,000 from a total fund of $75,000.

Tying for second place was WGM Katerina Nemcova, also from Webster University in Saint Louis; and IM Nazi Paikidze, a player from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Irina Krush

Irina Krush

“I guess my collection is growing — a lot of effort went into each of those titles,” said Krush, who earned her seventh career U.S. Women’s Championship. “I’d like to break the record one day, which is nine women’s titles won by Gisela Gresser. If I get to ten, I think that will be really good.”

Press release by Brian Jerauld, for full U.S. Chess Championships coverage, visit www.uschesschamps.com.

Final standings (men):
1. GM Nakamura Hikaru 2798 – 8.0
2. GM Robson Ray 2656 – 7.5
3. GM So Wesley 2788 – 6.5
4. GM Onischuk Alexander 2665 – 6.0
5-7. GM Kamsky Gata 2683, GM Akobian Varuzhan 2622 and GM Sevian Samuel 2531 – 5.5
8-9. GM Shankland Samuel 2661 and GM Troff Kayden 2532 – 5.0
10. GM Holt Conrad 2530 – 4.5
11. GM Gareev Timur 2604 – 4.0
12. GM Naroditsky Daniel 2633 – 3.0

Final standings (women):
1. GM Krush Irina 2477 – 8.5
2-3. IM Paikidze Nazi 2333 and WGM Nemcova Katerina 2279 – 7.5
4. WIM Ni Viktorija 2188 – 7.0
5. WGM Sharevich Anna 2267 – 6.5
6. IM Goletiani Rusudan 2311 – 6.0
7-8. WGM Abrahamyan Tatev 2322 and WGM Foisor Sabina-Francesca 2235 – 5.5
9-10. WCM Virkud Apurva 2132 and WIM Wang Annie 1901 – 3.5
11-12. FM Melekhina Alisa 2235 and WFM Yu Jennifer 2180 – 2.5

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