The 2026 U.S. Chess Championship is underway in St. Louis, Missouri and Pinoy GM Wesley So has made an impressive start. The three time U.S. champion opened the tournament with consecutive victories before drawing his third round game. After four rounds, he remains among the leaders in a highly competitive field, showing why he is one of the strongest players in American chess.
The championship features 12 players competing in a round robin format, with every player facing the other competitors. With a $250,000 prize fund and $55,000 awarded to the winner.
Round 1: Victory over Sam Shankland
Wesley began his campaign with a win over GM Sam Shankland which also happened to be his 33rd birthday. The game was messy but Wesley eventually won after a long game.
Round 2: A comeback against Jeffery Xiong
Wesley scored another win against GM Jeffery Xiong. However, it was not an easy victory. Wesley was in a worse position at one stage before turning the game around.
Round 3: A draw against Awonder Liang
Wesley faced Awonder Liang in the third round. Their game ended in a draw, leaving both players on 2.5 points out of three.
Round 4: Wesley shares the lead with Fabiano Caruana
In the fourth round Wesley drew his game and reached 3 points out of 4, maintaining his unbeaten start. Meanwhile, Fabiano Caruana defeated Ray Robson in a rook endgame to catch up at the top of the standings.
Wesley and Fabi are therefore tied for first place on 3/4 as the championship heads into Round 5.
Can Wesley Win?
I believe Wesley has an excellent chance. His early results show that he can fight through difficult positions that shows resilience in a competitive field. However, Fabi is also a serious contender. The former world championship challenger is still one of the top players and has excellent chances to win.