Gata Kamsky is the favorite this week to win the United States Championship for the fourth time in five years. But his nearest tournament rivals are closing the talent gap, and it is clear that there will soon be a changing of the guard.

It should be noted, however, that Kamsky is ranked only second among active American competitors. The top-ranked player is Hikaru Nakamura, 26, who usually steers clear of the United States Championship in favor of tournaments that have more international prestige, and is doing so again this year. The last time Nakamura competed in the country’s title event — in 2012 — he won. It is the one interruption in Kamsky’s string of victories.