2023 United States Chess Championship Explained

Competition:United States Championship 2023
Governing Body:FIDE
Venue:Saint Louis Chess Club
Location:St. Louis, Missouri
Dates:4–19 October 2023
Competitors:12
Champion: Fabiano Caruana
Win Score:8 points of 11
Previous:2022
Next:2024
Prize Money:$250,000

The 2023 edition of the United States Chess Championship took place at the Saint Louis Chess Club in St. Louis, Missouri from 4 October to 19 October 2023. As with every United States Chess Championship tournament since 2014, it was a round-robin tournament.[1] Twelve players were invited to compete. Besides the reigning US champion, these included the winners of the US Open Chess Championship, the US Junior Championship, and the US Senior Open Championship. The remaining players were chosen by highest invitational rating, or were selected by the United States Chess Federation (USCF) as wildcards.

The twelve qualifiers were Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Leinier Domínguez, Abhimanyu Mishra, Hans Niemann, Samuel Sevian, Ray Robson, Levon Aronian, Sam Shankland, Jeffery Xiong, Dariusz Świercz and Andrew Tang, all of whom are grandmasters.[2] Fabiano Caruana won the tournament without losing a game. This was his second consecutive title.

Participants

All statistics as of October 2023.

Participants[3] !Player!Age!Rating!World ranking
3127862
Wesley So29275310
Leinier Domínguez40274513
Abhimanyu Mishra142592>100
Hans Niemann20266770
Samuel Sevian22269837
Ray Robson28269936
Levon Aronian40274215
Sam Shankland32269838
Jeffery Xiong22269345
Dariusz Świercz292620>100
Andrew Tang232496>100

Organization

The tournament was a twelve-player, round-robin tournament, meaning there were 11 rounds with each player facing the others once. The tournament winner became the United States Chess Champion.

Regulations

Tie breaks

While there was no tie for first place, such a situation would have been addressed as follows:

If two players tie for first a two-game 10+2 rapid match will take place. If there remains a tie, a single armageddon game will occur.

If three or four players tie for first a single round-robin in the 10+2 rapid time control will take place

If two players remain tied, they contest a two-game 3+2 blitz match. If the tie persists, an armageddon game decides the winner.

If three or more players remain tied, they contest a 3+2 round-robin.

If more than four players tie for first players will contest a 3+2 round-robin. If the round-robin ends in a tie, a series of armageddon games decide the winner.[4]

Prize money

The event features a $250,000 prize fund, distributed as follows:[5]

!Place!Cash prize (USD)
1st$60,000
2nd$45,000
3rd$35,000
4th$25,000
5th$20,000
6th$14,000
7th$11,000
8th$10,000
9th$9,000
10th$8,000
11th$7,000
12th$6,000

Results

Standings

Fabiano Caruana won the tournament with ex-champion Wesley So as the runner-up.[6]

PlayerRating123456789101112Points
12786½½11½½½½1118
2 Wesley So2753½½1½½1½½½½½6.5
3 Leinier Domínguez2745½½½½½½½1½½16.5
4 Abhimanyu Mishra259200½01111½½16.5
5 Hans Niemann26670½½11010½½½5.5
6 Samuel Sevian2698½½½001½½½½15.5
7 Ray Robson2699½0½010½½11½5.5
8 Levon Aronian2742½½½00½½1½½½5
9 Sam Shankland2698½½001½½0½½½4.5
10 Jeffery Xiong26930½½½½½0½½½½4.5
11 Dariusz Świercz26200½½½½½0½½½04
12 Andrew Tang24960½00½0½½½½14

References

  1. Web site: 2023 U.S. Championships www.uschesschamps.com . 2024-01-27 . www.uschesschamps.com.
  2. Web site: U.S. Championship 2023 - All the Information . 2024-01-27 . Chess.com . en-US.
  3. Web site: The Field www.uschesschamps.com . 2024-01-27 . www.uschesschamps.com.
  4. Web site: Regulations www.uschesschamps.com . 2024-01-27 . www.uschesschamps.com.
  5. Web site: 2023 U.S. Championship www.uschesschamps.com . 2024-01-27 . www.uschesschamps.com.
  6. Web site: Results & Standings - U.S. Championship 2023 . 2024-01-27 . Chess.com . en-US.