Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown Caps Off an Unforgettable Month of Chess in Saint Louis to Celebrate Newly Re-opened Saint Louis Chess Club

Grandmaster (GM) and World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana and International Master (IM) Carissa Yip have successfully defended their titles at the 2025 U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships, respectively. Their victories at the recently expanded Saint Louis Chess Club (STLCC) mark back-to-back championship wins for both players, cementing their dominance at the top of American chess. Held from October 12–24, the tournaments featured 24 elite competitors battling over the board for a total prize fund of more than $400,000, culminating in a dramatic final round that showcased strategic brilliance, resilience, and sportsmanship.

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Champions crowned! Fabiano Caruana captures his fifth U.S. Chess Championship title while Carissa Yip reclaims the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship in Saint Louis.

“This year’s championships showcased the incredible strength and depth of American chess,” said Rex Sinquefield, co-founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “Fabiano and Carissa delivered commanding performances from start to finish, making it a clean sweep for Saint Louis players and a proud moment for our local chess community. We also take this time to honor the life and legacy of Daniel Naroditsky—an exceptional player, teacher, and ambassador of the game whose impact will be long remembered.”

Fabiano Caruana Captures Fifth U.S. Chess Championship

GM Fabiano Caruana entered the final day with a narrow half-point lead and delivered under pressure, calmly drawing against GM Levon Aronian to capture his fifth U.S. Chess Championship title. The victory marks his fourth consecutive championship win—a streak unmatched since the legendary Bobby Fischer achieved the same feat nearly six decades ago in 1967. Caruana took home $67,000 for his triumph, with GM Wesley So finishing second for $43,000 and GM Levon Aronian placing third with $35,000.

“Very, very happy with the result,” said Caruana. “This tournament is very meaningful—it’s the strongest national championship in the world with a huge history. Securing my fourth U.S. Championship in a row and repeating a result achieved by Bobby Fischer is an amazing feeling. I couldn’t have hoped for more.”

U.S. Chess Championship Final Results

Carissa Yip Dominates to Claim Fourth U.S. Women’s Championship Title

In the 2025 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, IM Carissa Yip captured her third consecutive title—and fourth overall. Demonstrating continued dominance, Yip has won every championship she has entered since 2021, having only missed the 2022 event. She earned $45,000 for her victory, followed by IM Anna Sargsyan in second place with $30,000 and GM Irina Krush in third with $20,000.

“I’m still a little in shock—everything happened so quickly,” said Yip. “I started the tournament behind the leaders, but once I found my form, things went really well. I always want to play for victory, and I’m very happy to finish strong. It’s exciting to claim my fourth U.S. Women’s Championship, and I’m looking forward to celebrating with ice cream with my friends and family.”

2025 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship Final Results

Recaps and full tournament coverage of the 2025 U.S. Championships are available at the STLCC’s YouTube and Twitch.tv channels.

Hall of Fame Inductees Honored

The month of October not only crowned new national champions but also celebrated the induction of the 2025 U.S. Chess Hall of Fame honorees and the newest class of World Chess Hall of Fame inductees.

In 2025, two individuals—National Master Bruce Pandolfini and Grandmaster Irina Krush—were selected for induction into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame by the US Chess Trust after reviewing the recommendations of the US Chess Recognitions Committee, which were subsequently endorsed by the US Chess Executive Board. Following their induction, the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame now includes 76 members.

“Bruce and Irina have shaped the narrative of American chess—Bruce through decades of teaching and writing, and Irina through fearless competition and historic achievements,” said Al Lawrence, Managing Director of the U.S. Chess Trust.

The World Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs or FIDE) also inducted three new members—Grandmasters Pia Cramling, Vlastimil Hort, and Jan Timman—into the World Chess Hall of Fame, which now includes 56 members.

“These inductees have defined excellence across continents and formats—players, mentors, authors, pioneers,” said Willy Iclicki, Chair of the FIDE Historical Committee. “Their legacies will inspire future generations.”

Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown

The month-long excitement will hit a high as Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown kicks off Oct. 27–29, featuring World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura, World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana and World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in an 18-game rapid double round-robin competition for $412,000 in prizes, including daily win bonuses and a Champion’s Jackpot.

Visit saintlouischessclub.org or follow the STLCC social channels for full event details and ticket information.

About the Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

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Caruana Makes History with Fifth Straight Title; Yip Reclaims the U.S. Women’s Championship Crown hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club