The American Cup 2025: Day 9 | Grand Finals

Live from the World Chess Hall of Fame, two double-elimination tournaments feature America's best overall chess players and America's best women players! Today features the second classical game in the grand final of each tournament, where the winner of the Champions bracket plays the winner of the Elimination bracket (pairings below). If the match is tied, blitz playoffs will immediately follow. Can Nakamura or Alice Lee clinch today by winning their matches, or will a rapid grand final tomorrow be necessary? Join GMs Yasser Seirawan & Cristian Chirila, IM Eric Rosen, and WGM Katerina Nemcova for the move-by-move.

2025.03.23

*OVERALL BRACKET | GRAND FINAL | GAME 2 (G/90+30)*
Fabiano Caruana vs. Hikaru Nakamura (1)
TWO-GAME (G/3+2) MATCH TO BREAK MATCH TIES

*WOMEN'S BRACKET | GRAND FINAL | GAME 2 (G/90+30)*
Tatev Abrahamyan (1) vs. Alice Lee
TWO-GAME (G/3+2) MATCH TO BREAK MATCH TIES

[tator]

Hikaru now has won the two american cups he has disputed. He is now the one who has won this tournament the most (Fabi won once and Aronian won once), and that despite being the only top american player who hasn't played all editions (only 2 out of the 4)

[klutch]

Since everyone else is afraid to say it, I will. Hikaru has been a better classical player than Fabi post covid. He is the 2nd best in the world post covid era

[thomas-bq]

Alice punching like a beast in blitz, so fast so aggressive

[John.Comedian]

This was such fun watching the whole turnament, thank you very much, you really reignited my excitement for chess.

[riverpapa-gwey]

how did that guy on the monitor knew all the best probably the greatest can beat the two players

[MochiStorm]

The commentators are putting me to sleep

[JohnWoo]

Why does the men champion make $90k and the women's champion make $49k? This is problematic.