The annual Cairns Cup, an elite women’s chess tournament ends today in St Louis, Missouri, USA. Up to Wednesday last, Chinese grandmaster Tan Zhongyi was leading after the sixth round of play. The tournament saw ten players facing off, including three world champions. It was a single round robin event making it nine rounds contested. The total prize money was US$200,000 with a first prize of US$50,000. Each of the ten contestants would be rewarded for their efforts.
The Cairns Cup is the equivalent of the Sinquefield Cup for top women players. The tournament is named after its initiator and co-founder of the Sinquefield Cup, Dr Jeanne Cairns-Sinquefield, and aims to promote women’s chess. Dr Cairns-Sinquefield announced an incentive of US$100,000 for up to five American women who achieve the title of grandmaster within the next five years. Irina Krush is the first American woman to receive the award.
