US Chess Championship

The US Chess Championship is an invitational tournament organized by the United States Chess Federation to determine the country's chess champion. It is the oldest national chess tournament. The event originated as a challenge match in 1845, but the champion has been decided by tournament play under the auspices of the USCF since 1936. The tournament has fluctuated between a round-robin tournament and a Swiss system. From 1999 to 2006, the championship was sponsored and organized by the Seattle Chess Foundation (later renamed America's Foundation for Chess) and featured a larger body of competitors, made possible by the change to a Swiss-style format. After the Foundation withdrew its sponsorship, the 2007 and 2008 events were held in Stillwater, Oklahoma, still as a Swiss system, under tournament director Frank K. Berry. Rex Sinquefield's Saint Louis Chess Club has hosted the championship since 2009. Since 2014, the championship has used a round-robin format.

As of 2023, twelve players are invited to compete: the reigning US champion, as well as the respective winners of the US Open Chess Championship, the US Junior Championship, and the US Senior Open Championship, with the remaining players chosen by highest invitational rating, in addition to wildcards chosen by the organizer. Fabiano Caruana is the current US chess champion.

By acclamation (1845–1891)

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! Years !! Champion !! Notes
 * 1845–1857 || Charles Stanley || Defeated Eugène Rousseau in a match in 1845
 * 1857–1871 || Paul Morphy || Won the first American Chess Congress in 1857
 * 1871–1891 || George Henry Mackenzie || Won the 2nd, 3rd and 5th American Chess Congress
 * }
 * 1871–1891 || George Henry Mackenzie || Won the 2nd, 3rd and 5th American Chess Congress
 * }
 * }

Match format (1891–1935)
George Henry Mackenzie died in April 1891 and, later that year, Max Judd proposed he, Jackson Showalter and S. Lipschütz contest a triangular match for the championship. Lipschütz withdrew so Judd and Showalter played a match which the latter won. A claim by Walter Penn Shipley that S. Lipschütz became US Champion as a result of being the top-scoring American at the Sixth American Chess Congress, New York 1889, is refuted in a biography of Lipschütz. The following US Champions until 1909 were decided by matches.


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! !! Year !! Winner !! Loser !! Result !! Notes
 * 1 || 1891–92 || Jackson Showalter || Max Judd || +7−4=3 || The final game was delayed until January 1892 because Judd was ill.
 * 2 || 1892 || Samuel Lipschütz || Jackson Showalter || +7−1=7 ||
 * 3 || 1894 || Jackson Showalter (2) || Albert Hodges || +7−6=4 || Prior to the last game the players agreed to extend the match. Many sources classify this as the first of two matches instead of one extended match.
 * 4 || 1894 || Albert Hodges || Jackson Showalter || +5−3=1 || Can be considered a match extension or a new match.
 * 5 || 1895 || Jackson Showalter (3) || S. Lipschütz || +7−4=3 ||
 * 6 || 1896 || Jackson Showalter (4) || Emil Kemény || +7−4=4 ||
 * 7 || 1896 || Jackson Showalter (5) || John Barry || +7−2=4 ||
 * 8 || 1897 || Harry Pillsbury || Jackson Showalter || +10−7=3 || Pillsbury added to the conditions of the match : "... even if I should win, I shall leave Showalter the possession of his championship title".
 * 9 || 1898 || Harry Pillsbury (2) || Jackson Showalter || +7−2=2 || Contrary to the 1897 match, the title of US champion was clearly at stake in 1898.
 * 10 || 1909 || Frank Marshall || Jackson Showalter || +7−2=3 || Title reverted to Showalter after Pillsbury's death in 1906.
 * 11 || 1923 || Frank Marshall (2) || Edward Lasker || +5−4=9 || Marshall declined to play in the invitational tournament that began in 1936.
 * }
 * 7 || 1896 || Jackson Showalter (5) || John Barry || +7−2=4 ||
 * 8 || 1897 || Harry Pillsbury || Jackson Showalter || +10−7=3 || Pillsbury added to the conditions of the match : "... even if I should win, I shall leave Showalter the possession of his championship title".
 * 9 || 1898 || Harry Pillsbury (2) || Jackson Showalter || +7−2=2 || Contrary to the 1897 match, the title of US champion was clearly at stake in 1898.
 * 10 || 1909 || Frank Marshall || Jackson Showalter || +7−2=3 || Title reverted to Showalter after Pillsbury's death in 1906.
 * 11 || 1923 || Frank Marshall (2) || Edward Lasker || +5−4=9 || Marshall declined to play in the invitational tournament that began in 1936.
 * }
 * 10 || 1909 || Frank Marshall || Jackson Showalter || +7−2=3 || Title reverted to Showalter after Pillsbury's death in 1906.
 * 11 || 1923 || Frank Marshall (2) || Edward Lasker || +5−4=9 || Marshall declined to play in the invitational tournament that began in 1936.
 * }
 * 11 || 1923 || Frank Marshall (2) || Edward Lasker || +5−4=9 || Marshall declined to play in the invitational tournament that began in 1936.
 * }

Round-robin format (1936–1998)

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! № !! Year !! Winner(s) !! Notes The title was not at stake, Bisguier remains champion. Nick de Firmian|| Yasser Seirawan (3) ||
 * 1 || 1936 || Samuel Reshevsky ||
 * 2 || 1938 || Samuel Reshevsky (2) ||
 * 3 || 1940 || Samuel Reshevsky (3) ||
 * - || 1941 || Samuel Reshevsky (4) || Match victory over I.A. Horowitz
 * 4 || 1942 || Samuel Reshevsky (5) || An erroneous ruling by the director allowed Reshevsky to tie for first with Isaac Kashdan. Reshevsky won a playoff match against Kashdan 6 months later.
 * 5 || 1944 || Arnold Denker ||
 * - || 1946 || Arnold Denker (2) || Match victory over Herman Steiner
 * 6 || 1946 || Samuel Reshevsky (6) ||
 * 7 || 1948 || Herman Steiner ||
 * 8 || 1951 || Larry Evans ||
 * - || 1952 || Larry Evans (2) || Match victory over Herman Steiner
 * 9 || 1954 || Arthur Bisguier ||
 * - || 1957 || Samuel Reshevsky (7) || Match victory over Arthur Bisguier.
 * - || 1946 || Arnold Denker (2) || Match victory over Herman Steiner
 * 6 || 1946 || Samuel Reshevsky (6) ||
 * 7 || 1948 || Herman Steiner ||
 * 8 || 1951 || Larry Evans ||
 * - || 1952 || Larry Evans (2) || Match victory over Herman Steiner
 * 9 || 1954 || Arthur Bisguier ||
 * - || 1957 || Samuel Reshevsky (7) || Match victory over Arthur Bisguier.
 * - || 1952 || Larry Evans (2) || Match victory over Herman Steiner
 * 9 || 1954 || Arthur Bisguier ||
 * - || 1957 || Samuel Reshevsky (7) || Match victory over Arthur Bisguier.
 * 9 || 1954 || Arthur Bisguier ||
 * - || 1957 || Samuel Reshevsky (7) || Match victory over Arthur Bisguier.
 * - || 1957 || Samuel Reshevsky (7) || Match victory over Arthur Bisguier.
 * 10 || 1957/8 || Bobby Fischer || At 14, the youngest champion ever
 * 11 || 1958/9 || Bobby Fischer (2) ||
 * 12 || 1959/0 || Bobby Fischer (3) ||
 * 13 || 1960/1 || Bobby Fischer (4) ||
 * 14 || 1961—62 || Larry Evans (3) ||
 * 15 || 1962—63 || Bobby Fischer (5) ||
 * 16 || 1963—64 || Bobby Fischer (6) || The only perfect score in tournament history
 * 17 || 1965—66 || Bobby Fischer (7) ||
 * 18 || 1966—67 || Bobby Fischer (8) || A record eighth win (out of eight attempts)
 * 19 || 1968 || Larry Evans (4) ||
 * 20 || 1969 || Samuel Reshevsky (8) ||
 * 21 || 1972 || Robert Byrne || Playoff held 9 months after the tournament, with Byrne winning over Samuel Reshevsky and Lubomir Kavalek
 * 22 || 1973 || Lubomir Kavalek John Grefe ||
 * 23 || 1974 || Walter Browne ||
 * 24 || 1975 || Walter Browne (2) ||
 * 25 || 1977 || Walter Browne (3) ||
 * 26 || 1978 || Lubomir Kavalek (2) ||
 * 27 || 1980 || Walter Browne (4) Larry Christiansen  Larry Evans (5) ||
 * 28 || 1981 || Walter Browne (5) Yasser Seirawan ||
 * 29 || 1983 || Walter Browne (6) Larry Christiansen (2)  Roman Dzindzichashvili ||
 * 30 || 1984 || Lev Alburt||
 * 31 || 1985 || Lev Alburt (2) ||
 * 32 || 1986 || Yasser Seirawan (2) ||
 * 33 || 1987 || Joel Benjamin
 * 21 || 1972 || Robert Byrne || Playoff held 9 months after the tournament, with Byrne winning over Samuel Reshevsky and Lubomir Kavalek
 * 22 || 1973 || Lubomir Kavalek John Grefe ||
 * 23 || 1974 || Walter Browne ||
 * 24 || 1975 || Walter Browne (2) ||
 * 25 || 1977 || Walter Browne (3) ||
 * 26 || 1978 || Lubomir Kavalek (2) ||
 * 27 || 1980 || Walter Browne (4) Larry Christiansen  Larry Evans (5) ||
 * 28 || 1981 || Walter Browne (5) Yasser Seirawan ||
 * 29 || 1983 || Walter Browne (6) Larry Christiansen (2)  Roman Dzindzichashvili ||
 * 30 || 1984 || Lev Alburt||
 * 31 || 1985 || Lev Alburt (2) ||
 * 32 || 1986 || Yasser Seirawan (2) ||
 * 33 || 1987 || Joel Benjamin
 * 28 || 1981 || Walter Browne (5) Yasser Seirawan ||
 * 29 || 1983 || Walter Browne (6) Larry Christiansen (2)  Roman Dzindzichashvili ||
 * 30 || 1984 || Lev Alburt||
 * 31 || 1985 || Lev Alburt (2) ||
 * 32 || 1986 || Yasser Seirawan (2) ||
 * 33 || 1987 || Joel Benjamin
 * 31 || 1985 || Lev Alburt (2) ||
 * 32 || 1986 || Yasser Seirawan (2) ||
 * 33 || 1987 || Joel Benjamin
 * 32 || 1986 || Yasser Seirawan (2) ||
 * 33 || 1987 || Joel Benjamin
 * 33 || 1987 || Joel Benjamin
 * 34 || 1988 || Michael Wilder||
 * 35 || 1989 || Roman Dzindzichashvili (2) Stuart Rachels
 * 35 || 1989 || Roman Dzindzichashvili (2) Stuart Rachels
 * 35 || 1989 || Roman Dzindzichashvili (2) Stuart Rachels
 * 36 || 1990 || Lev Alburt (3) || Knockout tournament
 * 37 || 1991 || Gata Kamsky || Knockout tournament
 * 38 || 1992 || Patrick Wolff ||
 * 39 || 1993 || Alexander Shabalov Alex Yermolinsky ||
 * 40 || 1994 || Boris Gulko || The only person to have held both the US and Soviet championships
 * 41 || 1995 || Nick de Firmian (2) Patrick Wolff (2) Alexander Ivanov ||
 * 42 || 1996 || Alex Yermolinsky (2) ||
 * 43 || 1997 || Joel Benjamin (2) ||
 * 44 || 1998 || Nick de Firmian (3) ||
 * }
 * 41 || 1995 || Nick de Firmian (2) Patrick Wolff (2) Alexander Ivanov ||
 * 42 || 1996 || Alex Yermolinsky (2) ||
 * 43 || 1997 || Joel Benjamin (2) ||
 * 44 || 1998 || Nick de Firmian (3) ||
 * }
 * 43 || 1997 || Joel Benjamin (2) ||
 * 44 || 1998 || Nick de Firmian (3) ||
 * }
 * }
 * }

Swiss format (1999–2013)

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! № !! Year !! Winner(s) !! Notes
 * 45 || 1999 || Boris Gulko (2) ||
 * 46 || 2000 || Joel Benjamin (3) Alexander Shabalov (2) Yasser Seirawan (4) ||
 * 47 || 2002 || Larry Christiansen (3) ||
 * 48 || 2003 || Alexander Shabalov (3) ||
 * 49 || 2005 || Hikaru Nakamura || Tournament was played in 2004, but called the 2005 Championship for legal reasons
 * 50 || 2006 || Alexander Onischuk ||
 * 51 || 2007 || Alexander Shabalov (4) ||
 * 52 || 2008 || Yury Shulman ||
 * 53 || 2009 || Hikaru Nakamura (2) ||
 * 54 || 2010 || Gata Kamsky (2) || Kamsky won an Armageddon tie-break playoff against Yury Shulman
 * 55 || 2011 || Gata Kamsky (3) ||
 * 56 || 2012 || Hikaru Nakamura (3) || Switched to a round-robin tournament for this year only
 * 57 || 2013 || Gata Kamsky (4) || Kamsky won an Armageddon tie-break playoff against Alejandro Ramírez
 * }
 * 52 || 2008 || Yury Shulman ||
 * 53 || 2009 || Hikaru Nakamura (2) ||
 * 54 || 2010 || Gata Kamsky (2) || Kamsky won an Armageddon tie-break playoff against Yury Shulman
 * 55 || 2011 || Gata Kamsky (3) ||
 * 56 || 2012 || Hikaru Nakamura (3) || Switched to a round-robin tournament for this year only
 * 57 || 2013 || Gata Kamsky (4) || Kamsky won an Armageddon tie-break playoff against Alejandro Ramírez
 * }
 * 55 || 2011 || Gata Kamsky (3) ||
 * 56 || 2012 || Hikaru Nakamura (3) || Switched to a round-robin tournament for this year only
 * 57 || 2013 || Gata Kamsky (4) || Kamsky won an Armageddon tie-break playoff against Alejandro Ramírez
 * }
 * 57 || 2013 || Gata Kamsky (4) || Kamsky won an Armageddon tie-break playoff against Alejandro Ramírez
 * }

Round-robin format (2014–present)

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! № !! Year !! Winner(s) !! Notes
 * 58 || 2014 || Gata Kamsky (5) || Kamsky won a playoff rapid against Varuzhan Akobian after Akobian qualified by beating Aleksandr Lenderman on an Armageddon tie-break
 * 59 || 2015 || Hikaru Nakamura (4)||
 * 60 || 2016 || Fabiano Caruana||
 * 61 || 2017 || Wesley So || Wesley So won a rapid playoff against Alexander Onischuk
 * 62 || 2018 || Samuel Shankland||
 * 63 || 2019 || Hikaru Nakamura (5) ||
 * 64 || 2020 || Wesley So (2) || Tournament held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hosted online via Lichess.
 * 65 || 2021 || Wesley So (3) || So won a rapid playoff against Fabiano Caruana and Samuel Sevian
 * 66 || 2022 || Fabiano Caruana (2) ||
 * 67
 * 2023
 * Fabiano Caruana (3)
 * }
 * 64 || 2020 || Wesley So (2) || Tournament held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hosted online via Lichess.
 * 65 || 2021 || Wesley So (3) || So won a rapid playoff against Fabiano Caruana and Samuel Sevian
 * 66 || 2022 || Fabiano Caruana (2) ||
 * 67
 * 2023
 * Fabiano Caruana (3)
 * }
 * 2023
 * Fabiano Caruana (3)
 * }
 * }