The fifth edition of the Cairns Cup is officially underway at the Saint Louis Chess Club, running from June 8–21. One of the strongest women’s tournaments in the world, the Cairns Cup brings together ten top players from around the globe to battle it out in a classical round-robin for event’s record $250,000 prize fund.
The tournament started with a thrilling first round where every single game ended decisively – no draws in sight! It’s the kind of action that reminds us exactly why we love women’s chess: bold ideas, sharp tactics, and fighting spirit from start to finish.
The player lineup is packed with stars like a former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi, Indian star Humpy Koneru, GM-elect Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Nana Dzagnidze, with Alice Lee, just 15 years old, adding fresh energy to the mix. Local fans are most likely keeping an extra careful eye for Carissa Yip and Alice as they take on this elite field.
Among the stars is also a polish player Alina Kashlinskaya, who’s making the trip extra special by bringing her mother and young son along. According to Chess.com, they struck a heartwarming deal: if she wins a game, her son gets a toy. “So far, so good!” she smiled after scoring her first win.
It’s also worth noting that Alina was part of our ChessMom project, which provided accommodation for babies and caretakers during the 2024 Chess Olympiad. It’s fantastic to see Alina and her little son continuing to travel the world together – proof that she doesn’t have to choose between being a mother and a professional chess player.
We’re also proud to note that Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of our Commission, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, is serving as the tournament’s Deputy Arbiter. Moreover – the whole arbiters and commentators team is a all-women squad! Chief Arbiter of the event is IA Maya Myers and the commentators are IM Almira Skripchenko, IM Nazi Paikidze and WGM Katerina Nemcova.
The event is hosted at the World Chess Hall of Fame in Saint Louis. Named after co-founder Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield, the Cairns Cup continues to drive opportunities for women in chess. That mission was further strengthened by the launch of the Cairns Chess Queens Award, offering $100,000 to any U.S. female player who earns the Grandmaster title within the next five years.
The games are just heating up—follow the action live at www.uschesschamps.com and don’t miss a moment!
