2025 U.S. Invitationals - Recap & Analysis
The 2025 U.S. Invitational Chess Tournaments in Madison, Wisconsin, have concluded, and Team Hawai‘i delivered a strong performance across multiple national events.
In the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, Ty Dutoit scored 3.5 out of 6 and earned the top U2000 prize, bringing home $100.
Apollo Van Brunt represented Hawai‘i in the Rockefeller Tournament of Elementary School Champions as one of the youngest players in the field, a first grader competing in an event open to students through fifth grade, and fought hard to score 1.5 points against older, more experienced players.
Kaimi Kawazu-Armstrong played in the Haring National Girls Tournament of Champions and scored 2 points, including two well-earned victories, in her first national appearance.
Kūliaikapono Shirota-Kapalu competed in the Barber Tournament of Middle School Champions and also scored 2 points, with one win and two draws, a promising debut at this level.
Your author, Cornelius Rubsamen, played in the Irwin Tournament of Senior Champions and finished with 3.5 out of 6, losing only in the final round to Grandmaster Melik Khachiyan.
The team also excelled in the Weeramantry National Blitz Tournament. Kūliaikapono Shirota-Kapalu dominated the U1200 section, taking clear first place and earning a $240 gift certificate, while Apollo Van Brunt secured clear fourth in the same section for a $120 prize. To top it off, Team Hawai‘i won the U1600 team competition, with each member receiving a $40 certificate for the victory.
Overall, Team Hawai‘i performed impressively across all events, gaining national recognition, valuable experience, and well-earned prizes. We encourage all scholastic players to join the upcoming local tournaments this month and begin preparing for the nationals in Grand Rapids next summer. As always, the invitational spots will go to the top performers at our scholastic state championship next spring.
Links to USCF Tournament Results:
8th annual Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions:
Round 5 - Cornelius Rubsamen vs. Nels Truelson
41St Annual Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions:
Round 2 - Ty Dutoit vs. Jason Bai
15th Annual Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions:
Round 3 - Kuliaikapono Shirota-Kapalu vs. Kyler Bergman