Cairns Cup

Cairns Cup
Tournament information
SportChess
LocationSaint Louis Chess Club
Month playedAugust (since 2026)
Established2019
Tournament
format
Round Robin
Purse$250,000 (2026)
BroadcastYouTube
Current champion
China Tan Zhongyi (2026)

The Cairns Cup is an annual round robin chess tournament, founded in 2019, for the leading women's chess players, held in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States.[1] The tournament was named after St Louis Chess Club co-founder and World Chess Hall of Fame member Dr Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield.[2][3]

Venue

St Louis Chess Club in 2015

The Cairns Cup is hosted at the Saint Louis Chess Club located in the Central West End in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The venue was funded by multi-millionaire Rex Sinquefield, and opened on July 17, 2008.[4][5]

Winners

#YearWinner(s)
12019 Valentina Gunina (Russia)
22020 Koneru Humpy (India)
–2022Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
32023 Anna Zatonskih (United States)
42024 Tan Zhongyi (China)
52025 Carissa Yip (United States)
62026 Tan Zhongyi (China)

2019

Valentina Gunina, victor of the first Cairns Cup in 2019

The 2019 Cairns Cup was the inaugural event hosted in February 2019. The event featured 10 players, in a round-robin format. The prize fund for the event was $150,000.[2] The event was won by Valentina Gunina of Russia.[6][7]


1st Cairns Cup, February 5–17 St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category X (2478.1)
PlayerRating12345678910PointsTB Prize Money
1  GM Valentina Gunina (Russia) 2501 Does not appear ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 7 $40,000
2  GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) 2532 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 6½ $30,000
3  GM Irina Krush (United States) 2435 ½ ½ Does not appear 1 1 1 1 0 0 ½ 5½ $20,000
4  GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) 2513 0 ½ 0 Does not appear ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 5 $15,000
5  GM Harika Dronavalli (India) 2471 ½ ½ 0 ½ Does not appear 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 4½ $9,500
6  IM Zhansaya Abdumalik (Kazakhstan) 2468 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 Does not appear 1 ½ 1 1 4½ $9,500
7  IM Anna Zatonskih (United States) 2428 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 Does not appear 1 1 ½ 3½ $8,000
8  GM Marie Sebag (France) 2476 0 0 1 0 ½ ½ 0 Does not appear ½ ½ 3 $6,500
9  GM Bela Khotenashvili (Georgia) 2491 0 0 1 0 ½ 0 0 ½ Does not appear 1 3 $6,500
10  IM Elisabeth Pähtz (Germany) 2466 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 Does not appear 2½ $5,000

2020

Koneru Humpy won her first Cairns Cup title in 2020.

The second edition of the Cairns Cup was held in February 2020. The prize fund was increased to $180,000.[8] 2019 winner, Valentina Gunina, returned to defend her title, ultimately finishing 10th. Humpy Koneru of India won the title.[9][10][11]

2nd Cairns Cup, February 7–17 St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category XI (2509.9)
PlayerRating12345678910PointsTB Prize Money
1  GM Koneru Humpy (India) 2580 Does not appear ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 6 $45,000
2  GM Ju Wenjun (China) 2583 ½ Does not appear 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 5½ $35,000
3  GM Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine) 2552 0 0 Does not appear 1 0 ½ ½ 1 1 1 5 $22,500
4  GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) 2504 1 ½ 0 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 5 $22,500
5  GM Harika Dronavalli (India) 2518 ½ ½ 1 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 4½ $12,500
6  GM Kateryna Lagno (Russia) 2552 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 0 4½ $12,500
7  GM Irina Krush (United States) 2422 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 0 1 0 4 $8,000
8  IM Carissa Yip (United States) 2412 0 1 0 ½ ½ 0 1 Does not appear 0 1 4 $8,000
9  GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) 2515 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 Does not appear 1 4 $8,000
10  GM Valentina Gunina (Russia) 2461 0 0 0 0 1 ½ 1 0 0 Does not appear 2½ $6,000

2023

Anna Zatonskih won the third Cairns Cup in 2023.

The Cairns Cup returned in 2023 following a two year hiatus. Only nine players' results were counted in the tournament, as 2020 champion Humpy Koneru withdrew shortly before the halfway point.[12] The tournament was won by Anna Zatonskih representing the United States. Alexandra Kosteniuk finished in 2nd, her third top-3 finish in the Cairns Cup, representing Switzerland for the first time. Irina Krush and Bella Khotenashvili shared third place.[13][14]

3rd Cairns Cup, June 3–13 St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category X (2478.2)[15]
PlayerRating12345678910PointsTB Prize Money
1  IM Anna Zatonskih (United States) 2327 Does not appear 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 – 6 $45,000
2  GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland) 2535 0 Does not appear 1 1 0 1 1 ½ ½ 1 5 $35,000
3  GM Irina Krush (United States) 2478 ½ 0 Does not appear 0 1 1 ½ ½ 1 – 4½ $25,500
4  GM Bella Khotenashvili (Georgia) 2436 0 0 1 Does not appear 1 ½ 1 0 1 ½ 4½ $25,500
5  GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) 2513 ½ 1 0 0 Does not appear ½ 0 1 1 1 4 $15,000
6  GM Harika Dronavalli (India) 2501 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ Does not appear 1 ½ ½ ½ 3½ $9,500
7  GM Elisabeth Pähtz (Germany) 2479 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 0 Does not appear 1 ½ – 3½ $9,500
8  IM Gunay Mammadzada (Azerbaijan) 2449 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 0 Does not appear ½ – 3 $8,000
9  GM Zhansaya Abdumalik (Kazakhstan) 2497 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear – 2 $7,000
10  GM Koneru Humpy (India) 2567 – 0 – ½ 0 ½ – – – Does not appear N/a – –

2024

Tan Zhongyi was the 2024 Cairns Cup winner

The 2024 Cairns Cup began on June 12.[16] In May, the ten players for the tournament were confirmed, including 2023 champion Anna Zatonskih. 2024 will also be the first time Spain has had a representative in the tournament. The chief arbiter is Australian chess player Anastasia Sorokina.[17] The prize fund for 2024 has risen to $200,000.[18]

Prior to the first official day of play, the players competed in an Ultimate Moves battle of team chess, with players rotating in and out of blitz games. Team A, featuring Tan, Anna Muzychuk, Harika, Kosteniuk, Lee, and Zatonskih, won the ten-game match 5½-1½. Georgian GM Nona Gaprindashvili joined "Team B" as a special tournament guest.[19]

Day one of the event saw former World Champions Tan Zhongyi, Mariya Muzychuk, and Alexandra Kosteniuk all record victories. Harika Dronavalli and Nana Dzagnidze played out a 126 move draw.[20] Day two saw victories for Dzagnidze and Dronavalli, taking them both to joint first alongside Zhongi and Mariya Muzkchuk.[21] In round three, all matches were drawn aside Swiss GM Alexandra Kosteniuk taking victory over Nana Dzagnidze. This saw Kosteniuk join the leaders on 2, with Dzagnidze dropping back to T-5 alongside Anna Muzychuk and Irina Krush on a total score of 1½.[22] On the fourth day, Tan Zhongyi's 20 move victory over defending champion Anna Zatonskih took her into the overall lead on a score of 3. Both Drovanelli and Mariya Muzychuk drew, whilst Kosteniuk lost to Alice Lee.[23] Day five saw all matches end in draws, the leaderboard remaining the same as each player added a half point to their totals.[24]

Following a rest day, the players returned for round six, where Kosteniuk scored a decisive victory over Mariya Muzychuk taking her to an overall score of 3½, a half point behind sole leader Zhongyi.[25] Round seven saw more close games, whilst Zhongyi took the win against Pähtz, retaining her lead, a further four players are also in contention for victory. Kosteniuk won again, and Mariya Muzychuk and Nana Dzagnidze also scored wins over Alice Lee and Irina Krush respectively.[26] In round eight, Anna Muzychuk took a timely victory against Kosteniuk taking her to a five-way tie for second place on a score of 4½. Lee beat Zatonskih, leaving the latter at the bottom of the leaderboard with 1½ points total.[27] In round nine, Zhongyi completed a draw against Kosteniuk to secure victory of the 2024 Cairns Cup with a total score of 6. Anna Muzychuk beat Alice Lee to take 2nd place, whilst 3rd was a four way tie between Kosteniuk, Drovanalli, Mariya Muzychuk and Nana Dzaginze. Alice Lee and Irina Krush were tied for 7th place at 4 points. Elisabeth Pähtz and Anna Zatonskih finished 9th place and 10th place, respectively. [28]

4th Cairns Cup, June 13–22 St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category IX (2463.6)
PlayerRating12345678910PointsTB Prize Money
1  GM Tan Zhongyi (China) 2540 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 6 $50,000
2  GM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) 2505 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 5½ $40,000
3  GM Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine) 2510 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 5 $19,000
4  GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) 2506 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 5 $19,000
5  GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland) 2501 ½ 0 1 1 Does not appear 0 ½ 0 1 1 5 $19,000
6  GM Harika Dronavalli (India) 2503 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 5 $19,000
7  GM Irina Krush (United States) 2415 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 4 $9,500
8  IM Alice Lee (United States) 2368 0 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ 1 4 $9,500
9  GM Elisabeth Pähtz (Germany) 2457 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ 3½ $8,000
10  IM Anna Zatonskih (United States) 2331 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ Does not appear 2 $7,000

2025

The 2025 Cairns Cup took place between June 10 and June 20, 2025. The total prize fund was $250,000.[29] The chief arbiter for 2025 was Maya Myers, supported by the returning deputy arbiter Anastasia Sorokina.[30] The tournament was won by American, Carissa Yip ahead of fellow American Alice Lee. India's Harika Dronavalli placed third.[31][32]

5th Cairns Cup, June 10–20 St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category X (2481.9)
PlayerRating12345678910PointsTB Prize Money
1  IM Carissa Yip (United States) 2431 Does not appear ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 0 1 1 6 $60,000
2  IM Alice Lee (United States) 2389 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 5½ $50,000
3  GM Harika Dronavalli (India) 2483 1 ½ Does not appear 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 5 $40,000
4  GM Humpy Koneru (India) 2543 0 ½ 1 Does not appear 1 ½ 1 0 ½ 0 4½ 20.75 $19,000
5  GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) 2509 0 1 ½ 0 Does not appear ½ 0 1 ½ 1 4½ 19.00 $19,000
6  IM Alina Kashlinskaya (Poland) 2459 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 0 1 1 ½ 4½ 19.00 $19,000
7  GM Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) 2505 0 ½ 0 0 1 1 Does not appear ½ ½ 1 4½ 18.50 $19,000
8  GM Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine) 2492 1 0 ½ 1 0 0 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 4 $9,000
9  GM Tan Zhongyi (China) 2546 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ 3½ $8,000
10  GM Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia) 2462 0 0 ½ 1 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear 3 $7,000

2026

The 2026 Cairns Cup took place between August 10 and August 20. The total prize fund was $250,000.[33] The tournament was won by the former Women's World Champion, Tan Zhongyi ahead of Alice Lee.[34]

6th Cairns Cup, August 10–20 St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category X (2491.6)
PlayerRating12345678910PointsTBPrize Money Circuit
1  GM Tan Zhongyi (China) 2520 Does not appear ½ 1 1 ½ 1 0 1 ½ 1 6½ $65,000 26.58
2  IM Alice Lee (United States) 2430 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 1 6 $50,000 19.33
3  GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) 2538 0 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 5 $35,000 8.46
4  IM Carissa Yip (United States) 2459 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 5 $35,000 8.46
5  GM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) 2529 ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 4½ $13,667
6  GM Divya Deshmukh (India) 2490 0 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 1 1 4½ $13,667
7  IM Stavroula Tsolakidou (Greece) 2433 1 1 0 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 4½ $13,667
8  GM Koneru Humpy (India) 2524 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 3½ $9,000
9  GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland) 2504 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear 1 3 $8,000
10  GM Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) 2489 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 Does not appear 2½ $7,000

References

  1. ↑ "Cairns' Cup, Elite Women's Event, Announces Field". US Chess. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 "2019 Cairns Cup". uschesschamps.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield". worldchesshof.com. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  4. ↑ Fagone, Jason. "The Queen's New Gambit: Chess as a Great American Spectator Sport". Wired Magazine. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ Our Beginnings. Archived April 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Cairns Cup 2019". theweekinchess.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "Valentina Gunina wins inaugural Cairns Cup". chessbase.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "2020 Cairns Cup". uschesschamps.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Doggers, Peter (17 February 2020). "Humpy Koneru Wins Cairns Cup". Chess.com. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "Cairns Cup 2019". theweekinchess.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Humpy Koneru wins second edition of the Cairns Cup". chessbase.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Cairns Cup: Khotenashvili wins again, Humpy withdraws". chessbase.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "Anna Zatonskih wins 2023 Cairns Cup". fide.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Cairns Cup: Alexandra Kosteniuk clinches second place". chessbase.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "2023 Cairns Cup Results". chess-results.com. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "2024 Cairns Cup Results". fide.com. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "2024 Cairns Cup". fide.com. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "2024 Cairns Cup". uschesschamps.com. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  19. ↑ "Cairns Cup 2024 begins in St. Louis". fide.com. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  20. ↑ "Wins For Former World Champions Tan, Kosteniuk, Mariya Muzychuk". chess.com. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  21. ↑ "Harika Forgoes Castling In Victory Over 'Chess Queen' Kosteniuk". chess.com.
  22. ↑ "Kosteniuk Topples Dzagnidze, Joins Leaders". chess.com.
  23. ↑ "Tan Zhongyi Sole Leader After Quick Victory". chess.com.
  24. ↑ "Lee Miraculously Saves Game After 5-Hour Marathon". chess.com.
  25. ↑ "Kosteniuk Records Fifth Decisive Result, Moves Into Second". chess.com.
  26. ↑ "Chaos Reigns As Tan, Kosteniuk, Muzychuk, Dzagnidze Win". chess.com.
  27. ↑ "Anna Muzychuk With Black Beats Kosteniuk, Joins Five-Way Tie For Second". chess.com.
  28. ↑ "Tan Draws With Kosteniuk, Wins Cairns Cup". chess.com. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  29. ↑ "2025 Cairns Cup". saintlouischessclub.org.
  30. ↑ "2025 Cairns Cup - Blitz Playoffs". fide.com.
  31. ↑ "Yip Wins Cairns Cup, Scores 2nd GM Norm". chess.com.
  32. ↑ "Carissa Yip wins 2025 Cairns Cup". fide.com.
  33. ↑ "2026 Cairns Cup". saintlouischessclub.org.
  34. ↑ Levin, Anthony (2026-08-19). "Cairns Cup Round 9: Tan Wins, Lee Earns GM Norm". Chess.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
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