2012 U.S. Women's Championship

IM Anna Zatonskih asserted her dominance with her second-straight win in the U.S. Women's Championships to take a half-point lead over the rest of the field. The U.S. Championship features a six-way tie for first.

All but three of the games from the first rounds of the 2012 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship were decisive as the competitors demonstrated their desire to play fighting chess to compete for the respective titles.

The 2012 U.S. Championships kicked off in Saint Louis in a big way as the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and the World Chess Hall of Fame unveiled a Guinness World Record. Round one begins today at 1 p.m. CT.

Meet Chris Bird, the chief Arbiter for the 2012 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship. Chris is an International Arbiter and USCF National Tournament Director. Tony Rich, executive director of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, will serve as the assistant arbiter for the event.