Leinier Domínguez, the Cuban-born Grandmaster now representing the United States, once again made a mark on the chessboard by securing a joint second place at the U.S. Chess Championship. Held at the renowned Saint Louis Chess Club, the tournament concluded this Wednesday, with Leinier sharing his position with five other players after achieving a commendable 5.5 out of 10 possible points.
Despite a modest start, Domínguez improved significantly towards the end, finishing with a decisive victory against the promising Awonder Liang (2667 Elo), which ensured his spot on the podium. Among his notable victories were those against Abhimanyu Mishra (2630 Elo) and Samuel Sevian (2689 Elo). He also secured valuable draws with esteemed players like Levon Aronian (2738 Elo), Wesley So (2751 Elo), Sam Shankland (2677 Elo), Grigory Oparin (2662 Elo), and Fabiano Caruana (2796 Elo), who ultimately won the championship.
Fabiano Caruana clinched the title along with a $62,000 prize, having amassed seven points. Domínguez, along with Ray Robson, Liang, Sevian, Aronian, and Hans Niemann, took the shared second spot, each receiving a prize of $24,667.
This achievement adds to Leinier's impressive career, having previously secured a second place in his debut in 2019 and again in 2023, not to mention the silver team medal for the U.S. at the 2024 Chess Olympiad.
Thalía Cervantes' Impressive Performance in Women's Category
In the women's division, Thalía Cervantes, another Cuban-born player now representing the U.S., finished in a shared fifth position after a draw in her closing game against the seasoned Anna Zatonskih. Cervantes accumulated 5.5 points, balancing three wins, three losses, and five draws. Her performance highlights the enduring Cuban talent within U.S. chess circles.