ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 25, 2026
Photo courtesy: Sports Corner PH
Filipino-American chess grandmaster Wesley So has reclaimed the U.S. Chess Championship title, defeating defending champion Fabiano Caruana in a rapid playoff on October 22 to secure his fourth national crown.
So won the two-game tiebreak, 1.5–0.5, ending Caruana’s run of four consecutive titles and capturing his first U.S. championship since 2021.
The 33-year-old grandmaster, who was born in Bacoor, Cavite, previously won the tournament in 2017, 2020 and 2021.
His latest victory came after an unexpected setback in the final round nearly cost him the championship.
A final-round defeat forces the tiebreak
So entered the final round of the classical tournament with a full-point advantage over his closest challengers. A draw against fellow grandmaster Sam Sevian would have been enough to secure the title outright.
Instead, So suffered a surprising defeat, ending his 48-game unbeaten streak at the U.S. Chess Championships.
Caruana capitalized on the opportunity by defeating Awonder Liang, allowing him to catch So at the top of the standings.
Both players finished the classical portion with seven points from 11 games, forcing a playoff to determine the champion.
The sudden turnaround meant So had to recover quickly from a difficult loss before facing one of the world’s strongest players for the title.
So bounces back to defeat Caruana
The championship was decided through two rapid games, each giving players 15 minutes with a 10-second increment per move.
Playing with the black pieces in the opening game, So navigated a complicated position against Caruana. Both players encountered time pressure before the match ended in a draw after 72 moves.
In the second game, So took control with the white pieces and established an advantage that Caruana struggled to overcome.
Caruana eventually resigned, giving So the decisive victory and a 1.5–0.5 playoff win.
The result ended Caruana’s four-year championship reign and returned the U.S. title to So after five years.
‘I only slept for two or three hours’
Following his victory, So admitted that his final-round defeat had affected him more than expected.
“I think I only slept for two or three hours, and I was not in the mood to play today at all,” he said in a post-match interview.
Despite his disappointment over the previous round, So managed to recover and produce the result he needed.
He also acknowledged that his overall tournament performance had not been perfect.
“I don’t think I deserved to win this year, but I’ll take it of course,” he said.
The grandmaster nevertheless expressed satisfaction at claiming another national title, particularly against a competitive field of leading American players.
Fourth national title adds to decorated career
So earned a total of $56,000 from the championship, consisting of a $49,000 share of the prize money and a $7,000 winner’s bonus.
The 2026 U.S. Chess Championship featured 12 grandmasters competing in an 11-round classical tournament from October 9 to 21, followed by the playoff on October 22.
Born and raised in the Philippines, So emerged as one of the country’s most promising chess players before transferring his international representation to the United States in 2014. He became an American citizen in 2021.
He is also a former Fischer Random World Chess Champion, having won the title in 2019.
With his fourth U.S. Chess Championship victory, So adds another major achievement to his international career and strengthens his legacy as one of the most accomplished Filipino-born chess players.
