Wesley So Claims Fourth US Championship Title in Dramatic Tiebreak

The US Chess Championships took place in Saint Louis from Friday 9th October to Wednesday 21st October 2026, culminating in a thrilling conclusion as Wesley So captured his fourth national title with a tiebreak victory over defending champion Fabiano Caruana.

A Battle Down to the Wire

Going into the final round, So held a one-point lead over Caruana, putting him in the driver’s seat to defend his crown. However, the tournament’s dramatic tension reached its peak when So suffered an unexpected defeat against Sam Sevian, who entered the event as the tournament’s tail-ender. The loss opened the door for Caruana, who needed only to win on tiebreak to reclaim the title he had held for the past four years across the 2022 through 2025 editions.

The eventual tiebreak showdown between the two grandmasters decided the championship, with So proving victorious to secure his fourth US Chess Championships title.

Women’s Event: A Debutant’s Triumph

The women’s section of the championships delivered its own compelling story. Debutant Rachael Li claimed the title in her first appearance at the event, finishing half a point clear of Alice Lee to seal the victory.

Tournament Highlights

• Wesley So claimed his fourth US Chess Championships title
• Fabiano Caruana, the defending champion for the past four years, finished as runner-up after losing the tiebreak
• So fell to Sam Sevian in the final round despite holding a one-point lead
• Rachael Li won the women’s event in her debut appearance
• Alice Lee finished as runner-up in the women’s section, a half point behind Li

Source

This report is based on information published by The Week in Chess (TWIC).

Official source: https://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/us-chess-championships-2026