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U.S. Junior & Senior Chess Championships: Andy Woodward, Zoey Tang, Vladimir Akopian, Anjelina Belakovskaia
Vom 14. bis 24. Juli finden im Saint Louis Chess Club die U.S. Junior & Senior Chess Championships 2026 statt, mit Rundenbeginn jeweils um 19 Uhr. In vier Sektionen – Senior, Senior Women, Junior und Girls – treten jeweils zehn eingeladene Spielerinnen und Spieler im Rundenturnier bei klassischer Bedenkzeit gegeneinander an. Bei den Senioren zählen unter anderem Alexander Onischuk, Wladimir Akopjan und Gregory Kaidanov zu den topgesetzten Teilnehmern, bei den Junioren Abhimanyu Mishra, Andy Woodward und Kirk Ghazarian. Insgesamt wird ein Preisgeld von 285.000 US-Dollar ausgeschüttet, davon 100.000 Dollar für die Senior Championship und 75.000 Dollar für die Junior Championship. Die U.S. Senior Women's Championship ist 2026 erstmals Teil der St.-Louis-Reihe, nachdem sie 2023 an anderem Ort debütiert hatte. Titelverteidiger sind Alex Fishbein bei den Senioren, Natalia Tsodikova bei den Senior Women und Andy Woodward beziehungsweise Zoey Tang bei den Junioren und Girls.
Livepartien, Ergebnisse, Tabelle
Lanni zieht sich aus Senioren-Meisterschaft zurück
Quelle: Saint Louis Chess Club – „WCM Diana Lanni Withdraws from 2026 U.S. Senior Women's Championship", veröffentlicht am 16. Juli 2026
Diana Lanni, Woman Candidate Master, hat ihre Teilnahme an der 2026 U.S. Senior Women's Championship aus gesundheitlichen Gründen beendet. Das berichtet Saint Louis Chess Club. Als Grund wird ein medizinisches Ereignis genannt.
Infolge des Rückzugs wird Lannis Erstrunden-Niederlage gegen Natalia Tsodikova annulliert. Alle übrigen Gegnerinnen erhalten für die Runden, in denen sie gegen Lanni angetreten wären, ein Freilos.
Automatisch KI-generierter Beitrag
New Champions Crowned in U.S. Junior, Junior Girls’, Senior and Senior Women’s National Championships in Saint Louis
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. (July 24, 2026) – America’s top rising stars and veteran competitors converged at the Saint Louis Chess Club for the 2026 U.S. Junior Championship, U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship, U.S. Senior Championship and for the first time in Saint Louis, U.S. Senior Women’s Championships. Held July 13–24, the invitation-only national championships featured the nation’s best junior and senior players competing for four national titles and a combined prize fund of $285,000.
Grandmaster (GM) Andy Woodward and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Zoey Tang each successfully defended their national titles, capturing back-to-back U.S. Junior and U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship crowns, respectively. Meanwhile, GM Vladimir Akopian emerged from a playoff to win the U.S. Senior Championship, while WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia claimed the U.S. Senior Women’s Championship.
“Congratulations to all four of our champions on an outstanding achievement,” said GM Yasser Seirawan, chief commentator and spokesperson for the Saint Louis Chess Club. “These championships showcased an extraordinary level of talent, determination and fighting spirit from every competitor. The future of American chess is exceptionally bright, and it has been a privilege to watch these young players and veterans compete at such a high level.”
Andy Woodward Clinches Back to Back U.S. Junior Championship Wins
For the second consecutive year, GM Andy Woodward, 16, of McKinney, Texas, captured the 2026 U.S. Junior Championship and $23,000 with a mature, undefeated performance, finishing clear first in a fiercely contested field. His consistent play throughout the tournament further cemented his status as one of America’s most promising young talents. With his win, he also has qualified to compete in the 2026 U.S. Championship.
“I’m really happy with the result. This was probably one of the toughest tournaments I’ve played in a long time. My opponents were playing really well, and I was lucky that it went my way. To come through a field like this makes the victory even more special.”
Close on Woodward’s heels throughout the tournament were GM Abhimanyu Mishra, 17, of Englishtown, N.J., and IM Tanitoluwa Adewumi, 15, of New York, who tied for second place. Each finished with a strong performance to earn $11,000.
| U.S. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS | |||
| PLACE | PLAYER & AGE | LOCATION | PRIZE MONEY |
| 1 | GM Andy Woodward, 16 | McKinney, Texas | $23,000* |
| T-2 | GM Abhimanyu Mishra, 17 | Englishtown, N.J. | $11,000 |
| T-2 | IM Tanitoluwa Adewumi, 15 | New York, N.Y. | $11,000 |
| 4 | IM Bach Ngo, 18 | Gainesville, Fla. | $7,500 |
| T-5 | IM Alice Lee, 16 | North Oaks, Minn. | $5,500 |
| T-5 | GM Brewington Hardaway, 17 | Bronx, N.Y. | $5,500 |
| 7 | GM Kirk Ghazarian, 20 | Coto De Caza, Calif. | $4,000 |
| 8 | IM Liam Putnam, 17 | Rocky Point, N.Y. | $3,000 |
| T-9 | GM Nico Chasin, 19 | New York, N.Y. | $2,250 |
| T-9 | IM Evan Park, 18 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | $2,250 |
* Includes Winner’s Bonus
Zoey Tang Defends Her Title to Win U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship
WGM Zoey Tang, 18, of Portland, Ore., successfully defended her title at the 2026 U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship, becoming a back-to-back national champion. After capturing the title in 2025, Tang once again finished atop the field with an undefeated performance, continuing her strong run in American chess. Her victory also earned her a spot in the U.S. Women’s Championship.
“It feels amazing to win this championship again,” Tang said. “Winning it the first time was a dream I’ve had since I was a child, so to come back and do it again this year is really special. My game against Rachael was a huge one—I knew it was a crucial game to win. To win this title a second time gives me confidence and proves to myself that I deserve to be here. I’m also so grateful to all of my friends and family. It’s been amazing knowing so many people have been cheering me on throughout the tournament.”
Behind Tang, Woman International Master Rachael Li, 16, of Plano, Texas, WGM Rochelle Wu, 20, of Azusa, Calif., and FIDE Master (FM) Jasmine Su, 15, of Darien, Conn., tied for second place, with each earning $6,583.
| U.S. JUNIOR GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS | |||
| PLACE | PLAYER | LOCATION | PRIZE MONEY |
| 1 | WGM Zoey Tang, 18 | Portland, Ore. | $15,000* |
| T-2 | WIM Rachael Li, 16 | Plano, Texas | $6,583 |
| T-2 | WGM Rochelle Wu, 20 | Azusa, Calif. | $6,583 |
| T-2 | FM Jasmine Su, 16 | Darien, Conn. | $6,583 |
| 5 | FM Megan Paragua, 13 | Elmhurst, N.Y. | $3,750 |
| 6 | FM Rose Atwell, 17 | Valencia, Calif. | $3,000 |
| 7 | WGM Iris Mou, 17 | New York, N.Y. | $2,500 |
| 8 | CM Irene Fei, 13 | Ames, Iowa | $2,250 |
| 9 | WFM Aimee Yang, 12 | Blue Bell, Pa. | $2,000 |
| 10 | WIM Chloe Gaw, 17 | New York, N.Y. | $1,750 |
* Includes Winner’s Bonus
Vladimir Akopian Wins U.S. Senior Championship
GM Vladimir Akopian, of Glendale, Calif., claimed the 2026 U.S. Senior Championship after prevailing over GM Alexander Onischuk, of Lubbock, Texas, in a dramatic playoff. Akopian earned $26,000 for the victory, while Onischuk took home $21,000. GMs Alexander Shabalov, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Alexander Fishbein, of Spring Hill, Tenn., shared third place, earning $11,250 each.
“I expected a tough playoff against Alex,” Akopian said. “I was exhausted after yesterday’s game and didn’t have much energy to prepare. I found myself in trouble in both games, so I’m very grateful to come away with the title.”
| U.S. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS | |||
| PLACE | PLAYER | LOCATION | PRIZE MONEY |
| 1 | GM Vladimir Akopian | Glendale, Calif. | $26,000* |
| 2 | GM Alexander Onischuk | Lubbock, Texas | $21,000 |
| T-3 | GM Alexander Shabalov | Pittsburgh, Pa. | $11,250 |
| T-3 | GM Alexander Fishbein | Spring Hill, Tenn. | $11,250 |
| T-5 | GM Joel Benjamin | Waldwick, N.J. | $6,750 |
| T-5 | GM Jesse Kraai | Baltimore Md. | $6,750 |
| T-7 | GM Gregory Kaidanov | Lexington, Ky. | $4,750 |
| T-7 | GM Igor Novikov | Lexington, Ky. | $4,750 |
| T-9 | GM Alexander Goldin | Lexington, Ky. | $3,750 |
| T-9 | IM Stuart Rachels | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | $3,750 |
* Includes Winner’s Bonus
Anjelina Belakovskaia Wins Second U.S. Senior Women’s Championship
WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia captured the U.S. Senior Women’s Championship after leading the tournament for most of the event and delivering a steady, consistent performance from start to finish. The victory marks her second U.S. Women’s Senior Championship title, following her inaugural championship win in 2023. A three-time U.S. Women’s Champion (1995, 1996 and 1999), Belakovskaia earned the title and the $17,750 first-place prize with another championship-caliber performance.
“It feels great,” said Belakovskaia. “I wish I had won it last year, but it just didn’t happen. Coming back this year and earning the title outright makes this victory especially meaningful.”
WFM Natalia Tsodikova, of Danville, Calif., finished second and earned $10,000. WFM Chouchanik Airapetian, of Mercer Island, Wash., placed third, receiving $7,500.
| U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS | |||
| PLACE | PLAYER | LOCATION | PRIZE MONEY |
| 1 | WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia | Phoenix, Ariz. | $17,750 |
| 2 | WFM Natalia Tsodikova | Danville, Calif. | $10,000 |
| 3 | WFM Chouchanik Airapetian | Mercer Island, Wash. | $7,500 |
| 4 | WFM Olga Sagalchik | Brooklyn, N.Y. | $6,000 |
| 5 | WIM Beatriz Marinello | New York, N.Y. | $4,500 |
| 6 | Jennifer Skidmore Smith | Ann Arbor, Mich. | $4,000 |
| T-7 | WFM Ivona Jezierska | Los Angeles, Calif. | $2,975 |
| T-7 | WIM Alexey Root | Denton, Texas | $2,975 |
| 9 | Catherine Dodson | Virginia Beach, Va. | $2,400 |
Next up for the Saint Louis Chess Club are the final regular season events of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour, the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, taking place July 31-Aug.7 and Sinquefield Cup Aug. 8-21, before the tour reaches its dramatic conclusion with the Grand Chess Tour Finals, Aug. 21–28. In addition, the Cairns Cup will take place Aug. 8-21.