IM Carissa Yip Wins 2025 Cairns Cup, Secures Second GM Norm

IM Carissa Yip won the 2025 Cairns Cup after drawing a decisive final game against IM Alice Lee, securing her second Grandmaster norm with a 2614 performance rating. Despite a slow start attributed to illness, Yip rallied with four consecutive wins leading into the last round, ultimately earning $65,000 as the tournament champion. Alice Lee needed a win in the final round to achieve her first GM norm but managed only a draw, finishing with a strong 5.5/9 score. Other notable results included GM Mariya Muzychuk defeating GM Koneru Humpy and GM Nino Batsiashvili winning her first game against Humpy, with several draws rounding out the field. The event was highlighted as a major success for American chess, with lower-ranked local players dominating the competition. The Cairns Cup featured intense competition and strategic depth, drawing analysis and commentary from top players and trainers throughout the rounds.