Photo by Mitchell Johnson on Unsplash
Alice Lee wins 2026 American Cup!
Congratulations!
IM Alice Lee makes noise with threepeat
In the 2026 American Cup Lee faced a friendly rival IM Carissa Yip. Lee broke Yip's record of youngest female to achieve the IM title, at age 13. Yip was 16 when she obtained the title.
Lee started her first of three consecutive titles in 2024, facing GM Irina Krush in the Finals.
In Lee's second of three titles she faced WGM Tatyev Abrahamyan in 2025. Abrahamyan obtained her IM title later in 2025.
Yip had not competed in the 2024 Cup, but had made it to the Semi Finals in the 2025 Cup.
Yip lost to WGM Tatyev Abrahamyan instead of moving on to the finals, but 2026 had different results in mind. Yip made it to the Finals this year, but lost, and had to fight her way back from the elimination bracket to face Lee again. Lee was ready and took the match with a win and a draw in their final meeting.
Congratulations to some of the youngest and brightest in the US Women's field of chess. Will Lee be able to maintain the throne for years to come?
