The 2009 U.S. Chess Championship in St. Louis was especially strong due to the patronage and support of retired Missouri businessman Rex Sinquefield, who opened the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center in 2007. The club boasts spacious and modern facilities and a mission to spread the game to children and enthusiasts throughout the community.
In the big event, the prize fund of more than $100,000 managed to attract the top 15 highest-rated players in the country outside of the inactive Yasser Seirwan. For the first time in several years the top players would be fighting side by side for the most prestigious chess title on the domestic calendar.
At the end of the nine rounds, 21-year-old Hikaru Nakamura was first with 7/9, winning the $35,000 first prize and the $5,000 jackpot bonus for being the only high scorer.
Grandmaster-elect Robert Hess solidified his new title with a solid second place. He had a chance to equal Nakamura but could only draw Vladimir Akobian in the last round to finish with 6. 5/9, equal to 2007 champion Alexander Onischuk who had to beat his student, 14-year-old prodigy Ray Robson in the last round to also make 6.5.
Gata Kamsky certainly had to play the stiffest competition, but after a few early wins, he drew too many games down the stretch, including six of the final seven games to finish with only 6/9, despite not losing a single game.
Current U.S. Junior Champion Tyler Hughes was featured last week for his solid start in his biggest tournament to date. He ran into some experienced grandmaster competition down the stretch, but managed two more victories for a 4/9 finish.
International Master Michael Brooks has been the top player in Missouri for most of the past three decades. After showing his mettle early in the tournament, he was completely dismantled by Nakamura, who kept things under control despite a valiant attempt by Brooks to mix it up.
