Cairns Cup 2026 R2: Alice Lee and Tan Zhongyi Score 2nd Consecutive Win
Tan Zhongyi and Alice Lee scored their second consecutive wins at the Cairns Cup 2026. In the 2nd round, Tan Zhongyi defeated Koneru Humpy with the white pieces, and Alice Lee defeated Divya Deshmukh with black. In another decisive result, Carissa Yip won against Alexandra Kosteniuk. The Game between Bibisara Assaubayeva and Vaishali ended in a draw. The 3rd round will start on 12th August at 12 PM Local Time / 10:30 PM IST. Photos: Lennart Ootes
A Tough Day for Indians
It was a tough day for Indian players as Divya lost her game against Alice Lee. Divya managed to equalise the position and went into an equal rook endgame, but then she blundered and lost the game. Tan Zhongyi played some great chess to defeat Humpy. Meanwhile, Vaishali made a solid draw against Bibisara
Position after 39...Kg7
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Results
Standings
Replay Round 2 Games
Photo Gallery: GCT
About the 2026 Cairns Cup
One of the strongest female super-tournaments in the world returns in 2026 with the sixth edition of the Cairns Cup, running concurrently with the Sinquefield Cup at the Saint Louis Chess Club from August 8–21. Tournament play runs August 10–19, featuring ten of the world’s top female players competing across nine rounds of classical chess for a historic $250,000 prize fund. Inspired by its mission to promote chess to women, the tournament was named in honor of club co-founder Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield’s maiden name.
The Field
The 10-player lineup features an elite international field: Humpy Koneru, Tan Zhongyi, Anna Muzychuk, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Carissa Yip, Stavroula Tsolakidou, and Alice Lee.
Schedule
Prize Fund
The total prize fund is $250,000, representing the largest prize purse in the history of the Cairns Cup.
How to Watch
Follow every round with professional commentary led by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan on the Saint Louis Chess Club's YouTube channel and on Twitch. For spectators in Saint Louis, day passes include standing-room access to both the Sinquefield Cup and Cairns Cup playing halls, live Grandmaster commentary, and complimentary food, snacks, and beverages.
Format
The Cairns Cup is a 10-player, 9-round single round-robin classical tournament. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. Players receive 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
Venue: Saint Louis Chess Club
The Saint Louis Chess Club stands as the premier global destination for competitive play, anchoring Saint Louis as the “Chess Capital of the United States.” This state-of-the-art facility features a world-class tournament hall designed to accommodate everyone from local enthusiasts to legendary Grandmasters. As a non-profit educational organization, the club serves as the prestigious home for all major U.S. Championship events as well as the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, the Sinquefield Cup, the Cairns Cup and more.
Important Links
Cairns Cup: Official Site, Tickets, Regulations
