For sixth consecutive year the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) is hosting the U.S. Junior Closed Championship.
The event is an invitation-only tournament, including the U.S. nation’s top rising stars and it takes place from July 7-15, 2015.
Ten players are vying in a 9-round round-robin format with tempo of play 90’ X 40 moves + 30’ + 30”. If two or more players are tied for first place, a playoff will be held to determine the 2015 U.S. Junior Closed Champion.
IM Akshat Chandra (2589) and FM Awonder Liang (2428) took the lead with 2,5 points out of 3 rounds. Chandra outplayed IM Harmon-Velotti and NM Han and drew against IM Liou, while Liang defeated FM Bodek and NM Han but finished in a draw with NM Brattain.
IM Jeffery Xiong (2606) and IM Yian Liou (2501) shared the third place with 2 points, followed by NM Mika Brattain (2457), who scored 1,5 points.
The sixth place is currently shared in a four-way tie by IM Luke Harmon-Vellotti (2526), FM Michael Bodek (2527), FM Arthur Shen (2477) and FM Ruifeng Li (2502) at one point each, while NM Curran Han (2211) has only half point so far.
Tournament website/ LIVE games with analysis/ Standings and statistics
Rankings after round 3:
1. IM Akshat Chandra 2589 2.5
2. FM Awonder Liang 2483 2.5
3. IM Jeffery Xiong 2621 2.0
4. IM Yian Liou 2501 2.0
5. Mikka A Brattain 2452 1.5
6. IM Luke Harmon-Velloti 2545 1.0
7. FM Michael H Bodek 2528 1.0
8. FM Arthur Shen 2505 1.0
9. FM Ruifeng 2488 1.0
10. Curran Han 2211 0.5
