E4stat visits the US Chess Championship

Congratulations to Sam Shankland, 2018 US Chess Champion. He scored an extraordinary +6 against a very tough field and pushed his rating over 2700. He also made my forecast look bad. I visited rounds 10 and 11.

The star-studded lineup:

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Sam is about to clinch the championship here; he has a clearly winning position in Round 11 against Awonder Liang.

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Awonder in Round 10, pressing in his game against Izoria. Awonder scored drew all his games against the Big Three. Back in January, he won the Jane Addams Memorial with a perfect 4.0/4 (e4stat tied for 8th with 2.5/4). 

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This guy scored 2.5 points against the Big Three! 2600s are not to be underestimated. Here in Round 10, Izoria succumbed to Awonder Liang.

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The only 2700 player to survive against Izoria. After the first 2 games, he was in contention for the Fischer Prize (11-0), but he finished with a "Giri" (all draws).

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Wesley So in a very drawish rook ending against Robson in Round 10.

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Ray Robson in Round 10

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The next World Champion?

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In Round 10, Zherebukh went into a deep think after Caruana unleashed ...Bg4! A few moves later, Caruana avenged his loss from the 2017 US Championship.

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Onischuk had a tough tournament. In Round 10, Sam Shankland ground him down. Just one year ago, Onischuk tied for first with Wesley So but lost the playoff.

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I would not say that Nakamura slammed the clock. But when I was watching another game, I heard someone hit the clock with emphasis. I glanced over. Nakamura had just unleashed e5-e6! against Akobian.

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He was briefly in the lead, but Akobian fell apart later in the tournament. Here is his game against me in the Saturday Night Special

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The world's tallest chess piece, outside the World Chess Hall of Fame.