Christiansen and Kamsky the early leaders (2)

Larry Christiansen has won his first two games to lead group B, whereas Gata Kamsky is the only player to have registered a win in group A.
The US leading ladies have already shown their fighting qualities with six decisive games from eight.

Here is a summary of the events so far.

Round 1, Group A:

Daniel Naroditsky 2438 0.5-0.5 Jaan Ehlvest 2586
Yury Shulman 2622 0.5-0.5 Alexander Stripunsky 2578
Alexander Ivanov 2540 0.5-0.5 Gata Kamsky 2733
Varuzhan Akobian 2611 0.5-0.5 Ray Robson 2522

Round 2, Group A:

Daniel Naroditsky 2438 0.5-0.5 Yury Shulman 2622
Jaan Ehlvest 2586 0.5-0.5 Ray Robson 2522
Alexander Stripunsky 2578 0.5-0.5 Alexander Ivanov 2540
Gata Kamsky 2733 1-0 Varuzhan Akobian 2611

Points tally in Group A:

Seed Name Rating points
1 Gata Kamsky 2733 1.5
2 Yury Shulman 2622 1
3 Varuzhan Akobian 2611 1
4 Jaan Ehlvest 2586 1
5 Alexander Stripunsky 2578 1
6 Alexander Ivanov 2540 1
7 Ray Robson 2522 1
8 Daniel Naroditsky 2438 0.5

Round 1, Group B:

Larry Christiansen 2586 1-0 Alexander Shabalov 2590
Yasser Seirawan 2636 0.5-0.5 Gregory Kaidanov 2569
Sam Shankland 2512 0.5-0.5 Robert Hess 2565
Ben Finegold 2500 0-1 Alexander Onischuk 2678

Round 2, Group B:

Larry Christiansen 2586 1-0 Yasser Seirawan 2636
Gregory Kaidanov 2569 0-1 Sam Shankland 2512
Alexander Shabalov 2590 0.5-0.5 Alexander Onischuk 2678
Robert Hess 2565 0.5-0.5 Ben Finegold 2500

Here are the standings so far:

Seed Name Rating Points
4 Larry Christiansen 2586 2
1 Alexander Onischuk 2678 1.5
7 Sam Shankland 2512 1.5
6 Robert Hess 2565 1
2 Yasser Seirawan 2636 0.5
3 Alexander Shabalov 2590 0.5
5 Gregory Kaidanov 2569 0.5
8 Ben Finegold 2500 0.5

US Women's Championship

In the Women's event, Sabina Foisor has a perfect 2/2.

No Title Name Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
1 IM Irina Krush 2472 x 1           0 1
2 WFM Tatev Abrahamyan 2326 0 x         1   1
3 IM Rusudan Goletiani 2367     x     0.5   0 0.5
4 IM Anna Zatonskih 2499       x 0.5 1     1.5
5 FM Alisa Melekhina 2304       0.5 x     0 0.5
6 WIM Iryna Zenyuk 2245     0.5 0   x     0.5
7 WGM Camilla Baginskaite 2342   0 1       x   1
8 WGM Sabina Foisor 2350 1       1     x 2

Here are a few general details, noting of course the relatively generous prize fund:

The time control will be 40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. The players have additionally a 30 second increment from move one.

The Prize Fund is an impressive $166,000.

Place Prize
1st $40,000
2nd $30,000
3rd $20,000
4th $15,000

Plus $2,000 to the winner of each round robin.

Those who don't get to the Semi-finals won't go home empty handed either.

Round Robin Rank Prize
3rd $8,000
4th $6,000
5th $5,000
6th $4,000
7th $3,000
8th $2,500

There will also be $5,000 for Best Game Prizes throughout both Championships.

Tiebreaks

There will be play-offs in the Semifinals and final. Two rapid games (25 mins + 5 second increment). If necessary the game will go to a rapid Armageddon game, where one player gets 45 minutes and the other less but a choice of colour.

The 2011 U.S. Women's Championship also has a new format. A preliminary round robin stage of eight players, with four qualifying for the knock-out stage. The semi-finals and finals will consist of two game matches. The Prize Fund.

Place Prize
1st $18,000
2nd $12,000
3rd $9,500
4th $7,000
5th $4,000
6th $3,000
7th $2,500
8th $2,000

Plus $1,000 to the winner, $600 for second place and $400 for third place in the round robin.

official site

The games in rounds 1 to 7 will be everyday from 2pm to 8pm (local time).

There is a seven hour difference between St. Louis and Paris. So 2pm (St. Louis) =

8pm London

9pm Paris, Madrid

11pm Moscow

Live play:live


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