2009 US Chess Champion Hikaru Nakamura Interview

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Tournament PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The complete tournament data for all rounds of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Grandmaster Nakamura is the official U.S. Chess Champion!

GM Nakamura is the offical 2009 United States Chess Champion! He had a very convincing win against fellow Grandmaster Friedel. The only other person who could have tied Nakamura was GM-Elect Hess, a 17 year old football player. Despite an absolutely amazing performance in the tournament, Hess was unable to achieve more than a draw against GM Akobian.

Here is the winning game played by GM Nakamura in a very impressive 22 moves:

[Event "2009 U.S. Championship"]
[Site "St Louis"]
[Date "2009.05.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Friedel, Joshua"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "2757"]
[WhiteTitle "GM"]
[BlackELO "2568"]
[BlackTitle "GM"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5 c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Be7 9.Nc3 O-O 10.O-O Rb8 11.h3 c5 12.b3 Rb4 13.Re1 Bb7 14.Ba3 Rf4 15.g3 Rd4 16.Nf3 Rxd3 17.cxd3 Qxd3 18.Nxe5 Qf5 19.g4 Qf4 20.d4 Rd8 21.Qe2 Rxd4 22.Bc1 1-0

Official Tournament Page

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U.S. Chess Championship Round 8 Review

Official Tournament Page

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 9 Pairings

Round 9 Pairings (White / Black)
Sunday, May 17, 10:00 am

1. IM Robert Hess (6) 2545 - GM Varuzhan Akobian (5½) 2664
2. GM Hikaru Nakamura (6) 2757 - GM Joshua Friedel (5) 2568
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (5½) 2736 - IM Ray Robson (4½) 2542
4. GM Jaan Ehlvest (4) 2649 - GM Gata Kamsky (5½) 2798
5. GM Yury Shulman (4½) 2697 - GM Gregory Kaidanov (4) 2662
6. IM Enrico Sevillano (4) 2549 - GM Larry Christiansen (4) 2681
7. GM Joel Benjamin (4) 2650 - GM Alexander Shabalov (4) 2620
8. GM Ildar Ibragimov (4) 2628 - IM Michael Brooks (4) 2419
9. IM Samuel Shankland (3) 2464 - GM Boris Gulko (3½) 2631
10. GM Julio Becerra (3½) 2672 - GM Melikset Khachiyan (2½) 2632
11. Tyler Hughes (3) 2293 - FM Doug Eckert (2) 2278
12. IM Irina Krush (3) 2496 - Charles Lawton (½) 2350

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Top 5 after 8 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship

U.S. Chess Championship Standings after 8 Rounds

1. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2).... 6.0
2. IM Hess, Robert (17)....... 6.0
3. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........ 5.5
4. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3). 5.5
5. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)... 5.5

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

Nakamura holds Leader Position of 2009 U.S. Chess Championship with only 1 More Round to Go!

Hikaru Nakamura held onto the leader position with a decisive win today in round 8 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship.

The last and final round 9 will prove to be an extremely interesting one. Who will handle the pressure best with all the money and prestige on the line? We will find out soon enough! Games will be shown live on the official tournament site, and as soon as the final PGN is available it will be up on http://www.jrobichess.com.


[Event "2009 U.S. Championship"]
[Site "St Louis"]
[Date "2009.05.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Brooks, Michael"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "2419"]
[WhiteTitle "IM"]
[BlackELO "2757"]
[BlackTitle "GM"]
[Source "MonRoi"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Ne7 9.c4 Ng6 10.Bd3 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.Bxg6 hxg6 13.Be3 f5 14.f3 b6 15.f4 a6 16.Nc3 exf4 17.Bxf4 Bf6 18.Be3 Bd7 19.Bd4 Rc8 20.Qd3 Qc7 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.b3 Qc5 23.Kh1 b5 24.Rae1 bxc4 25.Qg3 cxb3 26.Ne4 fxe4 27.Rxf6 Bf5 28.Rxd6 b2 29.Rc6 Rxc6 30.dxc6 Qc1 31.Qb3 Kh7 32.Qd1 Qxd1 33.Rxd1 e3 34.c7 e2 0-1

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship Round 7 Review

Official Tournament Page

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Standings after 7 Rounds

Standings (3.0 or higher)
No. Name Score

1. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........ 5.0
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2).... 5.0
3. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3). 5.0
4. IM Hess, Robert (17)....... 5.0

5. GM Shulman, Yury (4)....... 4.5
6. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)... 4.5

7. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)...... 4.0
8. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)...... 4.0
9. GM Friedel, Joshua (15).... 4.0
10. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16).. 4.0
11. IM Brooks, Michael (22).... 4.0

12. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)... 3.5
13. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)... 3.5
14. IM Robson, Ray (18)........ 3.5

15. GM Christiansen, Larry (5). 3.0
16. GM Becerra, Julio (6)...... 3.0
17. GM Gulko, Boris (12)....... 3.0
18. GM Shabalov, Alexander (14) 3.0
19. IM Krush, Irina (20)....... 3.0
20. Hughes, Tyler (24)......... 3.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Standings after 5 Rounds

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 4.0
2. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)....4.0

3. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 3.5
4. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....3.5
5. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3)3.5
6. IM Hess, Robert (17)..............3.5
7. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)............3.0
8. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 3.0
9. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 3.0
10. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)..2.5
11. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 2.5
12. GM Khachiyan, Melikset ... 2.5
13. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16).....2.5
14. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 2.5
15. IM Shankland, Samuel (21).2.5
16. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).2.0
17. GM Becerra, Julio (6).......... 2.0
18. IM Krush, Irina (20)........... 2.0
19. Hughes, Tyler (24).............. 2.0
20. GM Gulko, Boris (12)...........1.5
21. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)....1.5
22. GM Shabalov, Alexander ... 1.5
23. Eckert, Doug D (25)..............1.0
24. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)......0.5
25. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 5 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for rounds 1 through 5 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Nakamura and Kamsky set to Battle in Round 5

In round 5 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship co-leaders GM Hikaru Nakamura (2757) and GM Gata Kamsky (2798) will face off in what might very well be the major clash so far of the tournament. Both Grandmasters currently share the lead with GM Shulman, GM Akobian, and GM Friedel.

GM Shulman will be facing GM Friedel with the black pieces, and GM Akobian will be facing off against GM Jaan Ehlvest with the black pieces as well. GM Jaan Ehlvest currently has 2.5 points in the tournament. All games will definitely be a tough fight for the points involved, and without a doubt today's round will be one of the most important yet in terms of the road to victory at the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship!

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 4 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for rounds 1 through 4 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 4 Results

Board White Rating Result Black Rating
1. GM Gata Kamsky (2½) 2798 ½-½ GM Joshua Friedel (2½) 2568
2. GM Yury Shulman (2½) 2697 ½-½ GM Hikaru Nakamura (2½) 2757
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (2) 2736 ½-½ IM Robert Hess (2) 2545
4. GM Varuzhan Akobian (2) 2664 1-0 GM Julio Becerra (2) 2672
5. GM Gregory Kaidanov (1½) 2662 ½-½ GM Jaan Ehlvest (2) 2649
6. IM Michael Brooks (1½) 2419 ½-½ GM Joel Benjamin (1½) 2650
7. GM Melikset Khachiyan (1½) 2632 1-0 IM Irina Krush (1½) 2496
8. IM Enrico Sevillano (1½) 2549 0-1 IM Samuel Shankland (1½) 2464
9. GM Larry Christiansen (1) 2681 ½-½ GM Alexander Shabalov (1) 2620
10. IM Ray Robson (1) 2542 1-0 GM Ildar Ibragimov (1) 2628
11. Tyler Hughes (1) 2293 1-0 Charles Lawton (0) 2350
12. GM Boris Gulko (0) 2631 1-0 FM Doug Eckert (0) 2278

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 3.0
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....... 3.0
3. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 3.0
4. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)...... 3.0
5. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 3.0
6. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3).... 2.5
7. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 2.5
8. GM Khachiyan, Melikset (11)... 2.5
9. IM Hess, Robert (17).......... 2.5
10. IM Shankland, Samuel (21)..... 2.5
11. GM Becerra, Julio (6)......... 2.0
12. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)...... 2.0
13. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)......... 2.0
14. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 2.0
15. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 2.0
16. Hughes, Tyler (24)............ 2.0
17. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).... 1.5
18. GM Shabalov, Alexander (14)... 1.5
19. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16)..... 1.5
20. IM Krush, Irina (20).......... 1.5
21. GM Gulko, Boris (12).......... 1.0
22. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)...... 1.0
23. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)....... 0.5
24. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0
25. Eckert, Doug D (25)........... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 3 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for rounds 1 through 3 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser. Unfortunately, IM Anna Zatonskih got sick prior to the start of round 3 and her game against GM Gregory Kaidanov has been postponed.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 3 Results

Board White Rating Result Black Rating
1. GM Yury Shulman (2) 2697 ½-½ GM Gata Kamsky (2) 2798
2. GM Hikaru Nakamura (1½) 2757 1-0 IM Robert Hess (2) 2545
3. GM Alexander Onischuk (1½) 2736 ½-½ GM Jaan Ehlvest (1½) 2649
4. GM Joel Benjamin (1½) 2650 0-1 GM Joshua Friedel (1½) 2568
5. GM Julio Becerra (1) 2672 1-0 Tyler Hughes (1) 2293
6. GM Varuzhan Akobian (1) 2664 1-0 IM Ray Robson (1) 2542
7. IM Samuel Shankland (1) 2464 ½-½ GM Melikset Khachiyan (1) 2632
8. IM Michael Brooks (1) 2419 ½-½ IM Enrico Sevillano (1) 2549
9. GM Ildar Ibragimov (½) 2628 ½-½ GM Larry Christiansen (½) 2681
10. GM Gregory Kaidanov (½) 2662 PPD IM Anna Zatonskih (½) 2503
11. IM Irina Krush (½) 2496 1-0 GM Boris Gulko (0) 2631
12. Charles Lawton (0) 2350 0-1 GM Alexander Shabalov (0) 2620

Unfortunately, IM Anna Zatonskih has been taken ill. Her game against GM Gregory Kaidanov has been postponed until further notice.

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 2.5
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....... 2.5
3. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 2.5
4. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 2.5

5. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3).... 2.0
6. GM Becerra, Julio (6)......... 2.0
7. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)...... 2.0
8. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 2.0
9. IM Hess, Robert (17).......... 2.0

10. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)...... 1.5
11. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)......... 1.5
12. GM Khachiyan, Melikset (11)... 1.5
13. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16)..... 1.5
14. IM Krush, Irina (20).......... 1.5
15. IM Shankland, Samuel (21)..... 1.5
16. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 1.5

17. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).... 1.0
18. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)...... 1.0
19. GM Shabalov, Alexander (14)... 1.0
20. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 1.0
21. Hughes, Tyler (24)............ 1.0

22. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)....... 0.5
23. GM Gulko, Boris (12).......... 0.0
24. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0
25. Eckert, Doug D (25)........... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 2 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for both rounds 1 and 2 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com/ in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser. This tournament is definitely full of great play and surprise wins!

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 2 Results

Board White Rating Result Black Rating
1. GM Gata Kamsky (1) 2798 1-0 GM Varuzhan Akobian (1) 2664
2. GM Jaan Ehlvest (1) 2649 ½-½ GM Hikaru Nakamura (1) 2757
3. GM Melikset Khachiyan (1) 2632 0-1 GM Yury Shulman (1) 2697
4. IM Robert Hess (1) 2545 1-0 GM Julio Becerra (1) 2672
5. Tyler Hughes (1) 2293 0-1 GM Alexander Onischuk (½) 2736
6. GM Joshua Friedel (½) 2568 1-0 GM Gregory Kaidanov (½) 2662
7. GM Joel Benjamin (½) 2650 1-0 IM Irina Krush (½) 2496
8. GM Larry Christiansen (0) 2681 ½-½ IM Samuel Shankland (½) 2464
9. IM Ray Robson (0) 2542 1-0 GM Boris Gulko (0) 2631
10. IM Anna Zatonskih (0) 2503 ½-½ GM Ildar Ibragimov (0) 2628
11. GM Alexander Shabalov (0) 2620 0-1 IM Michael Brooks (0) 2419
12. IM Enrico Sevillano (0) 2549 1-0 Charles Lawton (0) 2350

Standings
No. Name Score

1. GM Kamsky, Gata (1)........... 2.0
2. GM Shulman, Yury (4).......... 2.0
3. IM Hess, Robert (17).......... 2.0

4. GM Nakamura, Hikaru (2)....... 1.5
5. GM Onischuk, Alexander (3).... 1.5
6. GM Benjamin, Joel (9)......... 1.5
7. GM Ehlvest, Jaan (10)......... 1.5
8. GM Friedel, Joshua (15)....... 1.5

9. GM Becerra, Julio (6)......... 1.0
10. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (7)...... 1.0
11. GM Khachiyan, Melikset (11)... 1.0
12. IM Sevillano, Enrico (16)..... 1.0
13. IM Robson, Ray (18)........... 1.0
14. IM Shankland, Samuel (21)..... 1.0
15. IM Brooks, Michael (22)....... 1.0
16. Hughes, Tyler (24)............ 1.0

17. GM Christiansen, Larry (5).... 0.5
18. GM Kaidanov, Gregory (8)...... 0.5
19. GM Ibragimov, Ildar (13)...... 0.5
20. IM Zatonskih, Anna (19)....... 0.5
21. IM Krush, Irina (20).......... 0.5

22. GM Gulko, Boris (12).......... 0.0
23. GM Shabalov, Alexander (14)... 0.0
24. Lawton, Charles (23).......... 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 1 PGN on http://www.jrobichess.com

The PGN data for round 1 of the 2009 U.S. Chess Championship is now online at http://www.jrobichess.com in the tournament section on the main page to explore from the comfort of your internet browser. This tournament is shaping up to be a very good one, with some very dynamic results already coming out of round one.

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.

U.S. Chess Championship 2009 - Round 1 Results

GM Yury Shulman (2697) defeats IM Enrico Sevillano (2549) (1-0)
GM Ildar Ibragimov (2628) loses to GM Gata Kamsky (2798) (0-1)
GM Hikaru Nakamura (2757) defeats GM Alexander Shabalov (2620) (1-0)
GM Joshua Friedel (2568) draws GM Alexander Onischuk (2736) ( ½-½ )
IM Robert Hess (2545) defeats GM Larry Christiansen (2681) (1-0)
GM Julio Becerra (2672) defeats IM Ray Robson (2542) (1-0)
IM Anna Zatonskih (2503) loses to GM Varuzhan Akobian (2664) (0-1)
GM Gregory Kaidanov (2662) draws IM Irina Krush (2496) ( ½-½ )
IM Samuel Shankland (2464) draws GM Joel Benjamin (2650) ( ½-½ )
GM Jaan Ehlvest (2649) defeats IM Michael Brooks (2419) (1-0)
Charles Lawton (2350) loses to GM Melikset Khachiyan (2632) (0-1)
GM Boris Gulko (2631) loses to Tyler Hughes (2293) (0-1)

STANDINGS

1. GM Kamsky, Gata..................... 1.0
2. GM Nakamura, Hikaru............. 1.0
3. GM Shulman, Yury.................. 1.0
4. GM Becerra, Julio.................... 1.0
5. GM Akobian, Varuzhan............ 1.0
6. GM Ehlvest, Jaan..................... 1.0
7. GM Khachiyan, Melikset.......... 1.0
8. IM Hess, Robert...................... 1.0
9. Hughes, Tyler.......................... 1.0

10. GM Onischuk, Alexander...... 0.5
11. GM Kaidanov, Gregory......... 0.5
12. GM Benjamin, Joel............... 0.5
13. GM Friedel, Joshua.............. 0.5
14. IM Krush, Irina.................... 0.5
15. IM Shankland, Samuel......... 0.5

16. GM Christiansen, Larry....... 0.0
17. GM Gulko, Boris.................. 0.0
18. GM Ibragimov, Ildar........... 0.0
19. GM Shabalov, Alexander.... 0.0
20. IM Sevillano, Enrico.......... 0.0
21. IM Robson, Ray................. 0.0
22. IM Zatonskih, Anna........... 0.0
23. IM Brooks, Michael........... 0.0
24. Lawton, Charles................ 0.0

Official Tournament Page
United States Chess Federation

jrobichess makes chess videos and has a chess blog along with a personal chess site at http://www.jrobichess.com.