For the first time, the Saint Louis Chess Club will host the Cairns 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 women and girls, the Chess Club aptly chose the name Cairns Cup in honor of co-founder Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield’s 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 Chess Club’s world-renowned facility for the $150,000 prize fund.
This tournament, a nine-round classical event, will not only be one of the largest prize funds for a woman’s tournaments, it promises to be the strongest tournament ever held in the world.
The top three finishers will will receive $40,000, $30,000, and $20,000 respectively.
Players receive 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes to the end of the game, with a 30-second increment starting from move one.
GM Kosteniuk, Alexandra (2532) 
GM Dzagnidze, Nana (2513) 
GM Harika, Dronavalli (2471) 
GM Krush, Irina (2435) 
IM Abdumalik, Zhansaya (2468) 
