CFN 2008 U.S. Women's Chess Championship

2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Women's Chess Championship
May 13 - 22, 2008
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Our Coverage of the 2007 U.S. Women's Chess Championship

News/Results/Standings - our own take and a round-up of coverage from other blogs and websites.

Post-Armageddon Match Controversy:

	Irina Krush's first open letter
	Co-organizer Tom Braunlich's response
	Irina Krush's second open letter
	Anna Zatonskih speaks about the events

The Players:

1 IM Irina KRUSH 2515 Current Champion
2 IM Anna ZATONSKIH 2490 Rating
3 WGM Katerine ROHONYAN 2318 Rating
4 WIM Batchimeg TUVSHINTUGS 2289 Rating
5 WFM Tatev ABRAHAMYAN 2280 Rating
6 WIM Tsagaan BATTSETSEG 2251 Rating
7 WFM Iryna ZENYUK 2205 Qualifier
8 WFM Chouchanik AIRAPETIAN 2143 Wild Card
9 Courtney JAMISON 2064 Wild Card
10 WM Esther EPSTEIN* 2194 (replacement for Rusa Goletiani)

Alisa Melekhina was on the alternate list (by rating) in case one of the players had to withdraw, but the nod went to Esther Epstein after Rusa Goletiani withdrew; perhaps Melekhina had a conflict in her schedule and had to decline her invitation. It's too bad, I was impressed with her poise and her play at the 2007 U.S. Women's Championship in Stillwater, where she scored 4.0/9.

Player Profiles (1 - 5)
Player Profiles (6 - 10)

The Prize Structure:

$25,000 Guaranteed Minimum, as shown below.

1- $5,000
2- $4,000
3- $3,000
4- $2,750
5- $2,500
6- $2,000
7- $1,750
8- $1,500
9- $1,250
10- $1,250
The winner also receives the title of U.S. Women’s Champion.

In addition, Goddesschess is sponsoring a $350 "Fighting Chess" award this year for the game that best exemplifies "fighting chess" in the tradition of the Polgar sisters. The winner will be selected by GM Susan Polgar! Goddesschess thanks to GM Polgar and to Phil Innes for making the introduction. Goddesschess sponsored a $300 Brilliancy Prize in the 2007 U.S. Women's Chess Championship, which was won by Elizabeth Vicary. It is our intention to sponsor a special prize for the U.S. Women's Chess Championship for many years to come.

EXTRA EXTRA! Read all about it! The Susan Polgar Foundation has added $150 to the Fighting Chess Award for the U.S. Women's Chess Championship, to make the total prize fund $500!!!!

The Match-ups (from Monroi's website/coverage of the Championship):

Round 1 Match-ups (Tuesday May 13):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
1. Chouchanik Airapetian (WFM) v. 10. Courtney Jamison
2. Anna Zatonskih (WGM, IM) v. 9. Iryna Zenyuk (WFM, CM)
3. Katerine Rohonyan (WGM) v. 8. Tsagaan Battsetseg (WIM)
4. Tatev Abrahamyan (WFM) v. 7. Irina Krush (WGM, IM)
5. Esther Epstein (WM) v. 6. Chimi Tuvshintugs (WIM)

Round 2 Match-ups (Wednesday May 14):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
10. Courtney Jamison v. 6. Chimi Tuvshintugs
7.   Irina Krush v. 5. Esther Epstein
8.   Tsagaan Battsetseg v. 4. Tatev Abrahamyan
9.   Iryna Zenyuk v. 3. Katerine Rohonyan
1.   Chouchanik Airapetian v. 2. Anna Zatonskih

Round 3 Match-ups (Thursday, May 15):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
2. Anna Zatonskih v. 10. Courtney Jamison
3. Katerine Rohonyan v. 1. Chouchanik Airapetian
4. Tatev Abrahamyan v. 9. Iryna Zenyuk
5. Esther Epstein v. 8. Tsagaan Battsetseg
6. Chimi Tuvshintugs v. 7. Irina Krush

Round 4 Match-ups (Friday, May 16):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
10. Courtney Jamison v. 7. Irina Krush
8.   Tsagaan Battseteg v. 6. Chimi Tuvshintugs
9.   Iryna Zenyuk v. 5. Esther Epstein
1.   Chouchanik Airapetian v. 4. Tatev Abrahamyan
2.   Anna Zatonskih v. 3. Katerine Rohonyan

Round 5 Match-ups (Saturday, May 17):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
3. Katerine Rohonyan v. 10. Courtney Jamison
4. Tatev Abrahamyan v. 2. Anna Zatonskih
5. Esther Epstein v. 1. Couchanik Airapetian
6. Chimi Tuvshintugs v. 9. Iryna Zenyuk
7. Irina Krush v. 8. Tsagaan Battsetseg

Round 6 Match-ups (Sunday May 18):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
10. Courtney Jamison v. 8.Tsagaan Battsetseg
9. Iryna Zenyuk v. 7. Irina Krush
1. Chouchanik Airapetian v. 6. Chimi Tuvshintugs
2. Anna Zatonskih v. 5. Esther Epstein
3. Katerine Rohonyan v. 4. Tatev Abrahamyan

Round 7 Match-ups (Monday May 19):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
4. Tatev Abrahamyan v. 10. Courtney Jamison
5. Esther Epstein v. 3. Katerine Rohonyan
6. Chimi Tuvshintugs v. 2. Anna Zatonskih
7. Irina Krush v. 1. Chouchanik Airapetian
8. Tsagaan Battsetseg v. 9. Iryna Zenyuk

Round 8 Match-ups (Tuesday May 20):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
10. Courtney Jamison v. 9. Iryna Zenyuk
1. Chouchanik Airapetian v. 8. Tsagaan Battsetseg
2. Anna Zatonskih v. 7. Irina Krush
3. Katerine Rohonyan v. 6. Chimi Tuvshintugs
4. Tatev Abrahamyan v. 5. Esther Epstein

Round 9 Match-ups (Wednesday May 21):

Player Draw (pairing numbers)
5. Esther Epstein v. 10. Courtney Jamison
6. Chimi Tuvshintugs v. 4. Tatev Abrahamyan
7. Irina Krush v. 3. Katerine Rohonyan
8. Tsagaan Battsetseg v. 2. Anna Zatonskih
9. Iryna Zenyuk v. 1. Chouchanik Airapetian