For the third time, the Saint Louis Chess Club will host the Cairns Chess Cup, an elite level tournament for the top female players from around the world. Inspired by its mission to further promote the game of chess to females, the STLCC aptly chose the name Cairns Cup in honor of co-founder Dr. Jeanne Sinquefieldโs maiden name. Fans can look forward to a chess tournament similar in style to the prestigious Sinquefield Cup with the ten best female players from around the world competing in the World Chess Hall of Fame for a $180,000 prize fund.
This tournament, a nine-round classical event, will not only be one of the largest prize funds for a women’s tournament, it promises to be the strongest female tournament ever held in the world. The top three finishers will receive $45,000, $35,000, and $25,000 respectively.
| Dates | June 3 – 13, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location | Saint Louis Chess Club |
| Format | 10-Player Round Robin |
| Prize Fund | $180,000 |
The participants are: Indiaโs top female player and current World No. 3 among women Humpy Koneru (India), a former Womenโs World Champion and current womenโs World No. 7 Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland), a multiple time Georgian Womenโs Champion, current Georgian Womenโs No. 1 and current Womenโs World No. 10 Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), a former Indian Womenโs Champion, current India Womenโs No. 2 and current Women’s World No. 13 Harika Dronavalli (India), a two-time Kazakhstani Womenโs Champion, current Kazakhstan Womenโs No. 1 and World No. 14 Zhansaya Abdumalik (Kazakhstan), a German grandmaster and No. 1 female player from Germany Elisabeth Paehtz (Germany), a multiple time Georgian Womenโs Champion and current Georgian No. 2. female player Bella Khotenashvili (Georgia), a two-time Azerbaijani Womenโs Champion and current Azerbaijan No. 1 among women Gunay Mammadzada (Azerbaijan), an eight-time U.S. Womenโs Champion and current U.S. Womenโs No. 1 Irina Krush (USA), and a 4-time U.S. Womenโs Champion and former Ukrainian Womenโs Champion Anna Zatokhskin (USA).
Cairns Chess Cup 2023 – Tournament schedule:
| Date | Time* | Event |
|---|---|---|
| June 3 | 1:00 PM | Round 1 |
| June 4 | 1:00 PM | Round 2 |
| June 5 | 1:00 PM | Round 3 |
| June 6 | 1:00 PM | Round 4 |
| June 7 | 1:00 PM | Round 5 |
| June 8 | Rest Day | Rest Day |
| June 9 | 1:00 PM | Round 6 |
| June 10 | 1:00 PM | Round 7 |
| June 11 | 1:00 PM | Round 8 |
| June 12 | 1:00 PM | Round 9 |
| June 13 | 1:00 PM | Playoffs (if necessary) |
*All times are Central Time (GMT-6)*
Prizes will be distributed as follows:
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $45,000 | 6th | $10,000 |
| 2nd | $35,000 | 7th | $9,000 |
| 3rd | $25,000 | 8th | $8,000 |
| 4th | $20,000 | 9th | $7,000 |
| 5th | $15,000 | 10th | $6,000 |
| Total Prize Fund | $180,000 | ||
