Fabiano Caruana and Carissa Yip successfully defended their national crowns at the 2025 U.S. Championships, extending remarkable title runs. Caruana secured a fourth straight championship and his fifth overall, while Yip completed a third consecutive win and her fourth overall.
Highlights of the U.S. Championships
Both the Open and Women’s tournaments featured 12-player round-robins with classical time controls and a combined prize fund of $402,000. The events took place at the Saint Louis Chess Club in St. Louis, Missouri, and drew the country’s top players, with the notable absence of Hikaru Nakamura.
In the Open, the battle for first centered on Caruana and Wesley So. After letting a winning chance slip in their sixth-round meeting, Caruana moved ahead in round nine and kept that edge through the finish, ending on 8 points from 11 games. So finished a half-point back for silver. Levon Aronian took third with 6.5/11. All three medalists went unbeaten, showcasing their exceptional skills and strategic prowess throughout the tournament.
The Women’s championship was tightly contested, with Anna Zatonskih, Yip, and Alice Lee sharing the lead with two rounds remaining. Yip closed with back-to-back victories over Nazi Paikidze and Thalia Cervantes Landeiro to clinch the title. Anna Sargsyan captured silver with crucial wins against Zatonskih and Lee, while Irina Krush secured bronze by scoring 1.5 points over the final two rounds.
The 2025 U.S. Championships not only highlighted the excellence of Caruana and Yip but also showcased the depth of talent in American chess. With thrilling matches and intense rivalries, the event set the stage for future competitions and continued growth in the sport. As chess continues to gain popularity, fans eagerly anticipate the next championship and the emergence of new talent on the national stage.