Top Female Chess Players to Compete in Elite Cairns Cup

Saint Louis Chess Club to host International players to vie for one of the largest chess prize funds for women

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Cairns Cup, an elite level female chess tournament created by the Saint Louis Chess Club, returns this June and will feature ten of the world's best female chess players. Inspired by its mission to further promote the game of chess to women, the tournament is aptly named in honor of Saint Louis Chess Club co-founder Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield’s maiden name.

The ten player round robin tournament will be hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club at the World Chess Hall of Fame from June 3-13, 2023 and will feature one of the strongest female fields, as they compete for a total prize fund of $180,000.

“The Saint Louis Chess Club continues to bring new and innovative ways to promote the game of chess,” said Tony Rich, Executive Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “The Cairns Cup is exciting to watch because it brings together one of the strongest international fields ever assembled in women’s chess with one of the largest prize funds for an all-female tournament.”

The 2023 Cairns Cup field will feature:

TITLE	NAME	FIDE RATING	FEDERATION
GM	Humpy Koneru	2576	IND
GM	Alexandra Kosteniuk	2535	SUI
GM	Nana Dzagnidze	2525	GEO
GM	Harika Dronavalli	2511	IND
GM	Zhansaya Abdumalik	2497	KAZ
GM	Elisabeth Paehtz	2479	GER
GM	Bella Khotenashvili	2478	GEO
IM	Gunay Mammadzada	2449	AZE
GM	Irina Krush	2436	USA
IM	Anna Zatonskih	2330	USA

“We are proud to again offer an elite international chess tournament created to provide more opportunities for female chess players,” said Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, co-founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “We hope by providing a world class facility and a competitive prize fund, we will help inspire more women to play chess on a competitive level.”

Each round will be streamed live daily from June 3-13 at 1 p.m. CT with the expert commentary team of Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan, International Master Nazí Paikidze and Woman Grandmaster Anastasia Karlovich.

For more information and to watch the livestream, visit uschesschamps.com.

About the Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to making chess an important part of our community. In addition to providing a forum for the community to play tournaments and casual games, the club also offers chess improvement classes, beginner lessons and special lectures.

Recognizing the cognitive and behavioral benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is committed to supporting those chess programs that already exist in area schools while encouraging the development of new in-school and after-school programs. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.