Club Director Tony Rich explains the technology used in the 2009 U.S. Women's Championship:



Betsy Dynako has provided excellent photo coverage of the event, capturing players' emotion and the spirit of the tournament:



Anna Zatonskih, the reigning Queen of the U.S. Women's Championship and probable 09 victor:



Alisa (Melekhina) Explains it All: ballet - chess crossovers, her goals for the tournament as the youngest participant:



Sabina Foisor is totally dedicated to playing an excellent game and tournament:

Anna Zatonskih has created a solid lead for herself at 4 1/2 points, and has beaten her primary opponent going into the tournament, Irina Krush. Camilla Baginskaite and Alisa Melekhina are both at 3 1/2 points - pulling ahead of Irina Krush by an entire point.

Zatonskih will be playing Melekhina this round, and given Melekhina's surprising performance so far it's expected to be a very interesting match.

Alisa Melehkina gave an interview yesterday that's available HERE; here's a little sample of the interview by Mike Klein, FunMaster:

Alisa Melekhina, 18, of Philadelphia, is the youngest played in the field as she competes in her second U.S. Women's Championship, an invitation-only event held this year at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. During the only free day from competition, Melekhina, a sophomore at Drexel University, has to spend the morning studying for a test in cognitive psychology. In 2007, she played in her first championship, and she was again the youngest.



After five rounds of play this year, Melekhina is tied for second place (with a woman more than twice her age) with 3.5 points out of five. She trails only the defending champion, Anna Zatonskih, of Long Island, N.Y., who is 13 years her senior, a virtual extra lifetime in the world of chess experience.
"I'm not that young anymore," she insisted.

A quick note on the "double threats" playing in the 09 Women's Championship:

Yun Fan is a singer/songwriter in a band called "Smoking Kills", and she's got an absolutely beautiful voice. Check out her vocal stylings at Chess.FM.

Irina Krush is rep-ing St. Louis rap in a new genre I'd like to call "adorable core". Also on Chess.FM.

Going into round 5, Zatonskih is leading with 3 1/2 points, playing Tatev Abrahamyan. Ben Finegold notes that Zatonskih's openings have been unpredictable in previous tournaments, so it would be hard to prepare for Anna's opening.

One game in particular to watch is Alisa Melekhina (second in standings) and Rusudan Goletiani. A win or draw for Melekhina would put her within grasp of Anna Zatonskih.

Come join Ben Finegold and Jen Shahade for expert commentary @ http://saintlouischessclub.org/US-Womens-Championship-2009/Live-Coverage

This week is also the beginning of what will certainly be a worthwhile partnership between the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and The Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Dubbed "Chess For Life", this program will provide chess tables and boards, volunteer chess partners at the center and online, as well as lessons and other ways for patients to learn and play chess.

Chess for Life was inspired by Jim Corbett, a Siteman patient who was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer in September 2007. During his treatment, Corbett’s mood was lifted when he began playing chess. Unfortunately, he died Dec. 15, 2008. Chess for Life was established by the Chess Club as a tribute to Corbett.

Sabina Foisor is up the Exchange in her game against Alisa Melekhina, and it's looking likely that Sabina will come out on top today in Round 4. You know what that means! She could come out of this round tied with Anna Zatonskih for the top seed.

Sabina and Anna won't meet until the 8th round, so if they stay neck and neck the end of the tournament could prove cutthroat.

As always, get it live @ http://saintlouischessclub.org/US-Womens-Championship-2009/Live-Coverage