Nakamura Defends American Cup Title in Dramatic Fashion

Hikaru Nakamura has done it again. The American chess star successfully defended his title at the 2025 American Cup, securing victory in classical chess without needing tiebreaks—just like in 2023. His final-round draw against Fabiano Caruana, achieved with his trademark 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 setup, was enough to seal the deal.

_chess.com

Nakamura, who was the only player to score decisive wins in classical chess (two, to be exact), admitted his bishop move to g4 wasn’t the most precise—but it got the job done. Caruana, well-prepared, followed an earlier game before deviating, but Nakamura’s resourcefulness in the double-rook endgame ensured the draw that clinched the title.

Meanwhile, the women’s final was a rollercoaster. Tatev Abrahamyan, needing only a draw to force a rematch, instead found herself outmaneuvered in a Caro-Kann endgame by Alice Lee. Though the position was equal after queens came off, Abrahamyan’s passive play allowed Lee to gradually tighten the screws. The blitz playoff was even more dramatic—Abrahamyan blew a winning position in the first game before collapsing in time trouble in the second, handing Lee the title.

The 2025 American Cup, held March 15-24 in Saint Louis, featured a $250,000 prize fund and intense battles across classical and rapid time controls. For Nakamura, it’s another triumph in a tournament where he continues to shine—proving once again that when it comes to high-stakes chess, he knows how to close the show.