2018 U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships Fields Announced

SAINT LOUIS (February 16, 2018) — For the tenth consecutive year, the Saint Louis Chess Club will host the U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Women’s Chess Championship. The fields have now been confirmed and fans are sure to see great battles April 17-30, 2018. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit uschesschamps.com.   2018 U.S. Chess Championship Field Title First Last Invitational Rating* Qualification Method GM Fabiano Caruana 2868 Rating GM Hikaru Nakamura 2853 Rating GM Wesley So 2852 U.S. Champion GM Alex Onischuk 2759 Rating GM Ray Robson 2731 Rating GM Sam Shankland 2730 Rating GM Varuzhan Akobian 2728 Rating GM Jeffery Xiong 2724 Rating GM Alex Lenderman 2695 U.S. Open Champion GM Awonder Liang 2669 U.S. Junior Champion GM Yaroslav Zherebukh 2717 Wildcard GM Zviad Izoria 2714 Rating   2018 U.S. Women's Chess Championship Field Title First Last Invitational Rating* Qualification Method GM Irina Krush 2524 Rating IM Anna Zatonskih 2517 Rating WGM Tatev Abrahamyan 2450 Rating IM Nazi Paikidze 2434 Rating WGM Sabina Foisor 2407 U.S. Women's Champion WGM Jennifer Yu 2402 Rating WIM Annie Wang 2373 Rating FM Maggie Feng 2363 Rating WGM Anna Sharevich 2361 Rating IM Dorsa Derakhshani 2321 Wildcard WIM Akshita Gorti 2317 U.S. Girls' Junior Champion IM Rusudan Goletiani 2302 Rating   *Invitational ratings are calculated based on the January USCF rating supplement, with bonuses for being at or near peak rating and penalties for inactivity.   About the Saint Louis Chess Club The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures. Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.   # # #

Saint Louis Chess Club | Building Champions 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108 | (314) 361-CHESS (2437) The Saint Louis Chess Club acknowledges Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield, whose generous support makes our tournaments possible. The STLCC and WCHOF admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational & admissions policies, scholarship & loan programs, and athletic & other school-administered programs.