The fields have been set for the Massachusetts Chess Association’s Spiegel Cup Scholastic Championships on March 18 in Marlborough.

Each age group, 8 & under, 11 & under, and 14 & under, consists of 10 players by invitation. This is based on rating (5 players), winners of one of the qualifiers (4), and the Spiegel Cup Series winner in each age group. The contenders are listed below. There is a high school championship section, but it is an open Swiss. Details are at www.MassChess.org

8&U By rating: Ruohan Yin (1710), Riya Kanury (1535), Ansh Yadawad (1447), Evan Wei (1367), and Maya Figelman (1322). Qualifiers: Eric Chang (1341), Isabella Lai (1241), Paul Tompros (788), Luke Ji (735), and the Spiegel Cup Series winner, Alexander Tran (878).

11&U By rating: Derek Jin (2043), Derek Zhao (1944), Lewis Tu (1898), Joy Cao (1820), and Aaron Lu (1815). Qualifiers: Thomas Ha (1916), Rafael Pashkov, (1671), Kelsey Liu (1852), Eric Feng (1692), and the Spiegel Cup Series winner, Isaac Gordon (1307).

14&U:By rating: Danila Poliannikov (2171), Dustin Liang (2150), Suraj Ramanathan (2145), Jerry Li (2125), andAlex Yu (2121). Qualifiers: Bernie Xu (1981), Vineeth Nareddy (1757), Alan Song (2163), and Yue Huang (1706). Spiegel Cup Series winner: Henry Booth (1427).

The fields for the upcoming US Championship have been released. It will once again be at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. It includes the usual cast of characters and the very generous prize fund of nearly $300,000. It will run March 18 through March 30.

The championship event includes Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, Alex Onischuk, Ray Robson, Sam Shankland, Varuzhan Akobian, Jeffery Xiong, Alex Lenderman, Awonder Liang, Yaroslav Zherebukh, and Zviad Izoria.

The women’s group includes Irina Krush, Anna Zatonskih, Tatev Abrahamyan, Nazi Paikidze, Sabina Foisor, Jennifer Yu, Annie Wang, Maggie Feng, Anna Sharevich, Dorsa Derakhshani, Akshita Gorti, and Rusudan Goletiani.

Correction: The Candidates tournament does have a site, Kühlhaus Berlin. It was announced last October, and Agon has also assured us that the prize fund for the Candidates is secure; https://worldchess.com/berlin/ is the events website. Our apologies.

Coming events: 3/18, Boylston March Scholastics, www.BoylstonChess.org; 3/16, Waltham Topalov G/25 d5 4-Round Swiss (dual), Waltham CC, www.WalthamChessClub.org/Schedule.html

Recent results: Wachusett Chess Club’s George O’Rourke Memorial (35 Players); 1st–2nd Roger Cappallo, Bruce Felton, 4/5

Answer to today’s problem: 1.Qb5+! cxb5 (1…Kxc3 2.Qb2+, 1…Ka3 2.Qb2 mate) 2.Nd5+ Ka3 3.Nxf6 wins, i.e.; 3...Kc4 (2...Ka3 3.Nxf6 Ka2 4.Nxh7 b4 5.Nf6 b3 6.Nd5 b2+ 7.Kd2 b1Q 8.Nc3+) 3.Nxf6 Kd4 4.Nxh7 Ke5.Nf8 Kf6 6.Ne6 and the h-pawn will promote.