2023 American Cup

Sam Sevian is a former U.S. prodigy and previous U12 World Champion. He became a Grandmaster at the age of 13 years and 10 months, breaking the record for the youngest American player to earn the GM title. Sevian also broke records on his way to becoming the youngest Expert, National Master, and International Master in U.S. Chess history. In 2017, Sevian won the American Continental Chess Championship, the youngest ever to do so at the age of 16.

Ray Robson is a former U.S. prodigy and one of the most recent members of the “2700” club, having crossed the barrier for the first time in November 2022. Last year’s fourth place finisher, Robson’s other career highlights include finishing second in the 2015 U.S. Championship, as well as second in the 2014 Millionaire Chess Open. Born in Guam, Robson lived in Florida for most of his childhood before attending Webster University in 2012 under a chess scholarship.

Sam Shankland is a former U.S. Champion (2018) and World Junior Champion (2010). Originally from Berkeley, California, Shankland is also a multiple-time U.S. Olympic team member, winning an individual gold medal in 2014 and a historic team gold in 2016. In 2021, Shankland reached the quarterfinals of the FIDE World Cup, qualifying him for the 2022 FIDE Grand Prix. Shankland has written three books thus far, Small Steps to Giant Improvement, Small Steps 2 Success, and the recent Grandmaster Training Camp 1 - Calculation!, published in February 2023.

Levon Aronian is an Armenian-American Grandmaster who switched federations to the United States in 2021. Last year’s runner-up, Aronian’s notable tournament achievements include winning the 2005 & 2017 FIDE World Cup, the 2006 & 2007 Chess960 Championship, the 2008 World Rapid Championship, and the 2009 World Blitz Championship. Originally from Yerevan, Aronian famously led Armenia to three gold medal finishes in the 2006, 2008, and 2012 Chess Olympiads.

Leinier Dominguez is a five-time Cuban champion and current American No 4. Having switched federations to the United States in 2018, he’s had a string of notable results, including a third place finish in last year’s American Cup, as well as second place finishes in the 2019 and 2022 U.S. Championships. Dominguez was also the winner of the 2021 Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX, and in 2008 he became the World Blitz Champion.