New Champions Crowned in U.S. Junior, Junior Girls’, Senior and Senior Women’s National Championships in Saint Louis

SAINT LOUIS, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 24, 2026--

America's top rising stars and veteran competitors converged at the Saint Louis Chess Club for the 2026 U.S. Junior Championship,U.S. Junior Girls' Championship, U.S. Senior Championship and for the first time in Saint Louis, U.S. Senior Women's Championships. Held July 13–24, the invitation-only national championships featured the nation's best junior and senior players competing for four national titles and a combined prize fund of $285,000.

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Grandmaster (GM) Andy Woodward and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Zoey Tang each successfully defended their national titles, capturing back-to-back U.S. Junior and U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship crowns, respectively. Meanwhile, GM Vladimir Akopian emerged from a playoff to win the U.S. Senior Championship, while WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia claimed the U.S. Senior Women's Championship.

"Congratulations to all four of our champions on an outstanding achievement," said GM Yasser Seirawan, chief commentator and spokesperson for the Saint Louis Chess Club. "These championships showcased an extraordinary level of talent, determination and fighting spirit from every competitor. The future of American chess is exceptionally bright, and it has been a privilege to watch these young players and veterans compete at such a high level."

Andy Woodward Clinches Back to Back U.S. Junior Championship Wins

For the second consecutive year, GM Andy Woodward, 16, of McKinney, Texas, captured the 2026 U.S. Junior Championship and $23,000 with a mature, undefeated performance, finishing clear first in a fiercely contested field. His consistent play throughout the tournament further cemented his status as one of America's most promising young talents. With his win, he also has qualified to compete in the 2026 U.S. Championship.

"I'm really happy with the result. This was probably one of the toughest tournaments I've played in a long time. My opponents were playing really well, and I was lucky that it went my way. To come through a field like this makes the victory even more special."

Close on Woodward's heels throughout the tournament were GM Abhimanyu Mishra, 17, of Englishtown, N.J., and IM Tanitoluwa Adewumi, 15, of New York, who tied for second place. Each finished with a strong performance to earn $11,000.

* Includes Winner’s Bonus

Zoey Tang Defends Her Title to Win U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship

WGM Zoey Tang, 18, of Portland, Ore., successfully defended her title at the 2026U.S. Junior Girls' Championship, becoming a back-to-back national champion. After capturing the title in 2025, Tang once again finished atop the field with an undefeated performance, continuing her strong run in American chess. Her victory also earned her a spot in the U.S. Women's Championship.

"It feels amazing to win this championship again," Tang said. "Winning it the first time was a dream I've had since I was a child, so to come back and do it again this year is really special. My game against Rachael was a huge one—I knew it was a crucial game to win. To win this title a second time gives me confidence and proves to myself that I deserve to be here. I'm also so grateful to all of my friends and family. It's been amazing knowing so many people have been cheering me on throughout the tournament."

Behind Tang, Woman International Master Rachael Li, 16, of Plano, Texas, WGM Rochelle Wu, 20, of Azusa, Calif., and FIDE Master (FM) Jasmine Su, 15, of Darien, Conn., tied for second place, with each earning $6,583.

* Includes Winner’s Bonus

Vladimir Akopian Wins U.S. Senior Championship

GM Vladimir Akopian, of Glendale, Calif., claimed the 2026 U.S. Senior Championship after prevailing over GM Alexander Onischuk, of Lubbock, Texas, in a dramatic playoff. Akopian earned $26,000 for the victory, while Onischuk, took home $21,000. GMs Alexander Shabalov, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Alexander Fishbein, of Spring Hill, Tenn., shared third place, earning $11,250 each.

"I expected a tough playoff against Alex," Akopian said. "I was exhausted after yesterday's game and didn't have much energy to prepare. I found myself in trouble in both games, so I'm very grateful to come away with the title."

* Includes Winner’s Bonus

Anjelina Belakovskaia Wins Second U.S. Senior Women’s Championship

WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia captured the U.S. Senior Women's Championship after leading the tournament for most of the event and delivering a steady, consistent performance from start to finish. The victory marks her second U.S. Women's Senior Championship title, following her inaugural championship win in 2023. A three-time U.S. Women's Champion (1995, 1996 and 1999), Belakovskaia earned the title and the $17,750 first-place prize with another championship-caliber performance.

"It feels great," said Belakovskaia. "I wish I had won it last year, but it just didn't happen. Coming back this year and earning the title outright makes this victory especially meaningful."

WFM Natalia Tsodikova, of Danville, Calif., finished second and earned $10,000. WFM Chouchanik Airapetian, of Mercer Island, Wash., placed third, receiving $7,500.

Next up for the Saint Louis Chess Club are the final regular season events of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour, the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, taking place July 31-Aug.7 and Sinquefield Cup Aug. 8-21, before the tour reaches its dramatic conclusion with the Grand Chess Tour Finals, Aug. 21–28. In addition, the Cairns Cup will take place Aug. 8-21

Fans can catch the live action, player interviews and event commentary by visiting the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch.tv channels.

About the Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club (STLCC) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making chess a vital part of the community and advancing Saint Louis’s reputation as the nation’s premier chess destination—the U.S. Chess Capital. In addition to hosting world-class tournaments and providing a welcoming space for casual and competitive play, the Club offers a robust slate of educational programming, including beginner lessons, chess improvement classes, lectures, and special events for players of all ages and skill levels.

Recognizing the cognitive, academic, and social benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is deeply committed to scholastic education. The Club supports existing chess programs in area schools while actively developing new in-school and after-school initiatives that introduce students to the game and help young players thrive both on and off the board. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

The winners of the 2026 U.S. National Championships pose at the awards ceremony at the Saint Louis Chess Club. From left are GM Vladimir Akopian, 2026 U.S. Senior Champion; WGM Anjelina Belakovskaia, 2026 U.S. Women's Senior Champion; Andy Woodward, 2026 U.S. Junior Champion; and Zoey Tang, 2026 U.S. Girls' Junior Champion.

LONDON (AP) — Spicy drinks are having a moment, and it’s no longer just standard spicy margaritas and bloody marys. Bartenders are getting experimental to create the perfect combination with a kick.

“The same way that you want to season a steak or a pork chop, you want to add multiple layers. And I think spice does that if you do it the right way," says Turner Greaves, bartender at New York’s Sip and Guzzle.

He makes a tequila highball called Doctor Green which he describes as “super-herbaceous, vegetal, a little bitter. It’s got tomatillo, green apple, shiso, horseradish, and then you can make it spicier with a little serrano pepper on the side.”

Customers get to add more spice with a little spice dropper delivered with their serve.

James Stevenson, co-founder of Brutes of Mayfair cocktail bar in London, says drinks were very sweet when he started out 20 years ago, and now consumers' tastes have shifted.

“I think there’s a real movement toward savory cocktails," he says. "Every drink we put on the menu that is more savory or has a pickled element or spice element tends to be our bestseller.”

Stevenson makes a mezcal-based Bagheera that he describes as a turbo-spiced margarita.

“We juice (blend) rather than shaking the drink, with fresh chile and coriander," he says. They make a fresh syrup, adding tequila and freshly squeezed lime, and finish off the drink with a house-made tajin salt rim.

It's no coincidence both bartenders picked agave-based spirits — tequila and mezcal — for their spicy offerings.

Stevenson explains that a lot of the flavor profiles you get from agaves are fresher, more vegetal than other spirits. “They’re just very akin to chiles" he says. Noting that tequila pairs well with salt, he adds, "Spice and savory flavors are just a natural kinship.”

Alex Lyoness, bar manager at London’s FlipDog, makes his Late Night cocktail with a hint of an after-hours kebab and pickles. He uses a white tequila and a Raicilla (an agave similar to mezcal). Soy sauce brings a deep flavor, he says, and a homemade chile tincture spices things up.

He then adds an onion and olive brine “like the ultimate dirty martini,” and garnishes with a bright pink pickled turnip.

But chiles aren't the only way to add spice. Lyoness says you're looking to create a “mouthfeel.” He uses Sichuan peppercorns and the Timur berry, which he says has a cool, numbing quality. “What you’re looking for is that tingling across the palate,” he says.

Greaves recommends bringing a little classic cooking into your drinks.

“You can add ginger, you can add garlic cloves, and star anise and fennel into these drinks, and it adds so many different elements of pepper, of spice. Go home and then throw cayenne into a margarita,” he says.

To judge the heat, try to read it on your palate, says Greaves: “If it starts creeping all the way down to your esophagus, I think that’s definitely a spice level that you can loosen up a bit.”

A good spicy drink should “give you the itches on the sides of your mouth” but not overwhelm, he says.

And don’t forget that no two chiles are the same.

“It’s all about tasting, trying and tweaking,” Anderson says.

For a spicy rim, mix any spices from your cupboard with a good rock salt, Anderson says. (You can freshly grind the spices for a more aromatic and vibrant mix.)

He recommends coriander seed for a more citrusy mix, and black pepper or cardamom powder for a savory feel. You can even try adding fruit powders.

“Something like a freeze-dried strawberry, freeze-dried raspberry, with a little bit of spice. It’s great,” Anderson says.

Then, simply run a lemon or lime wedge along the rim of your glass and gently roll it in a shallow plate of the salt mix.

“Hot Stuff” – Donna Summer

“Hot in Herre”– Nelly

“Spice up your Life” – The Spice Girls

“Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot” – The Merrymen

“Drop it like its Hot” - Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell

A Bagheera spicy cocktail is displayed in London on June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Dixon)

A spicy cocktail called Late Night, made with a brine mix of onion, olive, and sivri pepper, is displayed in London on June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Dixon)

A spicy cocktail called Green Doctor, made with tomatillo, green apple, shiso, and horseradish, is displayed in New York on June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Guido Neira)

This combination of images shows various spicy cocktails, from left, Bagheera, Doctor Green, and Late Night. (AP Photo)