Scheduled just before the the Sinquefield Cup, the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament holds a key position in the 2019 season as it marked the mid-way point of the Grand Chess Tour. With 2018 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Champion Hikaru Nakamura not returning to defend his title, the field was wide open for a new champion to take the crown.

Although World Champion Magnus Carlsen was considered a favorite to win, Armenian Grandmaster and 2017 GCT Champion Levon Aronian reclaimed his Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz crown with his second tournament win in 2019.