SAINT LOUIS, MO — While the opening round of the 2025 U.S. Chess Championships certainly delivered its share of dramatic upsets and viral moments, a significant portion of the games concluded peacefully.
In total, five matches across both the Open and Women’s sections saw a decisive winner, while a substantial seven games ended in draws.
Among the decisive victors in the Women’s Championship was IM Anna Sargsyan, making a solid statement in her tournament debut.
IM Sargsyan, competing in her first U.S. Championship since switching federations, secured a full point against FM Rose Atwell.
Playing the White pieces, Sargsyan navigated a sharp opening, gradually outmanoeuvring Atwell and converting her advantage in the endgame.
Her victory places her among the early leaders in the Women’s Championship, alongside GM Irina Krush and WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan, who both scored upset wins against higher-rated rivals.
Despite the fireworks elsewhere, a majority of the games across both events ended in draws, highlighting the balanced strength of the fields and the cautious approach many players took in the first round.
In the U.S. Chess Championship (Open section), four out of six games were drawn,
Newly 2700+ GM Awonder Liang and GM Abhimanyu Mishra split the point in their encounter, showcasing the tactical depth of both young grandmasters. This was Mishra’s 68th unbeaten game!
GM Sam Sevian and GM Sam Shankland, two prominent members of the U.S. national team, also played to a draw, a common outcome between evenly matched top players.
GM Dariusz Swiercz and GM Ray Robson similarly concluded their 71-move game with a draw, each securing a half-point to begin their tournament.
The most talked-about draw of the day occurred between GM Wesley So and GM Hans Niemann. This game, overshadowed by Chief Arbiter Chris Bird’s intervention to block the sun’s glare, ultimately concluded peacefully.
The U.S. Women’s Chess Championship also saw three games end in a draw:
WIM Megan Paragua and IM Tatev Abrahamyan battled to a draw in a fiercely contested game, with neither player able to break through the other’s defences.
GM Nazi Paikidze, a former U.S. Women’s Champion, began her campaign with a draw against WGM Thalia Cervantes, suggesting a cautious start.
GM Jennifer Yu, another former champion, also split the point with GM Anna Zatonskih, an experienced veteran, in a game that saw both players opt for a solid beginning, but Anna let a win slip away at the 92nd move.
These draws indicate a tightly contested tournament ahead, where every half-point will be crucial. While decisive results grab headlines, these foundational draws are equally important for players as they build momentum for the challenging rounds to come.
