2025 American Cup: A Showcase of Top US Chess Talent
Saint Louis will be the venue for the 2025 American Cup, an exciting double-elimination chess tournament. This prestigious event, taking place at the World Chess Hall of Fame from March 15-24, will offer a total prize fund of $400,000 to attract elite competitors from across the United States.
The American Cup in 2025 is set to feature a stellar lineup of elite grandmasters and emerging chess prodigies. Players will compete in a challenging double-elimination format, testing their skills in both classical and rapid chess. The competition will include world No. 2 GM Fabiano Caruana and world No. 3 GM Hikaru Nakamura, alongside notable figures such as IM Carissa Yip, who is moving to Saint Louis to further her chess career, 15-year-old rising star IM Alice Lee, and GM Irina Krush, an eight-time U.S. Women’s Champion and two-time American Cup victor.
Yip’s decision to relocate to Saint Louis was influenced by the Cairns Chess Queens Award and the Saint Louis Chess Club’s dedication to supporting women’s chess. She will become the highest-rated female chess player residing in the “Chess Capital of the United States.” Yip stated her gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate more closely with the Saint Louis Chess Club, especially praising their efforts to support women and girls in chess. She expressed thanks to everyone who facilitated her move and her enthusiasm for pursuing chess at the highest level in Saint Louis.
With a substantial $400,000 prize pool at stake, the tournament promises intense battles and high-stakes drama, captivating chess enthusiasts globally.
Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club, shared his excitement about hosting the American Cup again, bringing together the nation’s best chess players. He anticipates an even more thrilling competition this year, highlighting the exceptional blend of experienced grandmasters and rising stars. Rich looks forward to a tournament filled with action that will keep fans engaged until the very last move.
2025 Open & Women’s Division Fields
|
OPEN FIELD |
| Title | Name | Location | Current FIDE Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM | Fabiano Caruana | Saint Louis, MO | 2803 |
| GM | Hikaru Nakamura | Sunrise, FL | 2802 |
| GM | Wesley So | Excelsior, MN | 2747 |
| GM | Levon Aronian | Saint Louis, MO | 2745 |
| GM | Leinier Dominguez | Saint Louis, MO | 2741 |
| GM | Sam Sevian | Holden, MA | 2692 |
| GM | Ray Robson | Saint Louis, MO | 2689 |
| GM | Abhimanyu Mishra | Englishtown , NJ | 2600 |
WOMEN’S FIELD
| Title | Name | Location | Current FIDE Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| IM | Carissa Yip | Saint Louis, MO | 2416 |
| IM | Alice Lee | North Oaks, MN | 2386 |
| GM | Irina Krush | Brooklyn, NY | 2378 |
| FM/WGM | Thalia Cervantes | Saint Louis, MO | 2318 |
| WGM | Tatev Abrahamyan | Saint Louis, MO | 2310 |
| IM | Anna Zatonskih | Bochum, Germany | 2302 |
| WGM | Atousa Pourkashiyan | Sunrise, FL | 2297 |
| IM | Nazi Paikidze | Las Vegas, NV | 2294 |
The tournament rounds will be broadcast daily on uschesschamps.com, featuring expert commentary from Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan and Cristian Chirila, along with Woman Grandmaster Katerina Nemcova.
The Kings Arrive for the 2025 Champions Showdown
Leading up to the American Cup, the Saint Louis Chess Club will also host the 2025 Champions Showdown: The Kings.
Scheduled for March 4–6, The Kings is an exhibition event introducing a dynamic new format. It will feature six of the nation’s leading chess players participating in a daily triathlon of blitz, rapid, and semi-classical matches.
With a $250,000 prize fund, the payouts are structured uniquely: $4,500 per blitz game, $9,000 per rapid game, and $14,000 per semi-classical game. Additionally, a $2,500 prize will be awarded for the most impressive game, as judged by a designated committee.
The featured players include GMs Levon Aronian, Fabiano Caruana, Leinier Dominguez, Hikaru Nakamura, Ray Robson, and Wesley So.
Follow the action at uschesschamps.com or on YouTube and Twitch channels.
About the Saint Louis Chess Club
The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit organization committed to promoting chess within the community. Besides offering a venue for tournaments and casual play, the club provides chess improvement courses, beginner lessons, and special lectures.
Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral advantages of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club supports existing chess programs in local schools and encourages the creation of new programs both during and after school hours. For further details, please visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
