I see according to the standings that GM Kosteniuk is leading the U.S. Open at this point. If her three half point byes hold up, and she manages to finish in the top five, am I correct in assuming that the spots in the U.S. Championship will be dropped one because she plays under the Russian flag?
I don’t think so, as she was not eligible for a spot to begin with. The number of spots is reduced only if one of those qualifying by score would already have a spot by rating.