Pittsburgh resident Alex Shabalov wins U.S. Senior Chess Championship

World Chess Hall of Famer and Squirrel Hill resident Alex Shabalov emerged victorious at the inaugural U.S. Senior Chess Championship last weekend in St. Louis.

The competition is for elite players over the age of 50. Shabalov beat out a field that included four other Hall of Famers, including fellow grandmasters Larry Christiansen, Joel Benjamin and Alex Yermolinsky.

With the win, Shabalov took home $12,000 and the right to call himself the top senior player in the United States. Shabalov had already won four U.S. Chess Championships in his career.

The 2019 U.S. Junior and U.S. Girls’ Junior champions also were crowned at the Saint Louis Chess Club.

“This was a great tournament for everyone involved, and I hope they keep it going in 2020 and beyond,” Shabalov said. “It’s also amazing seeing the future of the sport play alongside us here.”