The U.S. Chess Championships delivered a wild ride from start to finish, with high drama, hard-fought battles and championship dreams on the line in both divisions.
In the Open, Grandmaster (GM) Fabiano Caruana and GM Wesley So battled their way into a playoff to decide the title, with So ultimately emerging as champion and taking home $56,000 – marking So’s fourth title.
The U.S. Women’s Championship was equally action-packed, as 16-year-old rookie Woman International Master (WIM) Rachael Li of Plano, Texas, made a spectacular debut, claiming her first U.S. Women’s Championship title and $45,000 in prize money.
Hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club (STLCC), the 2026 U.S. Chess Championship events featured 24 of the top chess players who competed over the board from Oct. 9–22 for a total prize fund of more than $400,000.
“This year’s championships showcased the incredible strength and depth of American chess,” said Rex Sinquefield, co-founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “From Wesley So’s championship run to Rachael Li’s standout breakthrough, these events demonstrated the determination, talent and unpredictability that make chess so compelling. We are proud to bring the nation’s top players to Saint Louis and give fans the opportunity to experience these extraordinary moments.”
Wesley So Wins U.S. Chess Championship After Unforgettable Tournament
GM Wesley So of Excelsior, Minnesota, emerged as the 2026 U.S. Chess Champion after a tournament filled with unexpected twists and remarkable individual performances. So’s victory capped a championship in which even the tournament’s highest-ranked players faced formidable challenges from across the field.
The Open section produced two particularly striking upsets. In Round 5, bottom-seeded GM Andy Woodward defeated top-seeded GM Fabiano Caruana, ending Caruana’s 54-game unbeaten streak. Woodward went on to finish fifth outright, delivering one of the tournament’s strongest performances.
In Round 11, GM Sam Sevian, who entered the game in last place, defeated So, who was leading the standings at the time. The victory ended So’s 48-game unbeaten streak and was Sevian’s only win of the championship.
Despite the setback, So won a Rapid Chess playoff and finished the tournament as champion. Caruana placed second, while GMs Jeffery Xiong and Grigoriy Oparin tied for third. Woodward’s fifth-place finish further underscored the depth and unpredictability of the field.
“I was disappointed with yesterday’s loss, but I’m very happy today. Shoutout to Fabiano — he’s a great teammate. We were both really tired today and ready to finish the tournament. Now I’m looking forward to reviewing my game and continuing to improve. I also want to thank the broadcast team for doing such a great job every day,” said So.
Final standings:
1 GM So Wesley 2770 – 7
2 GM Caruana Fabiano 2784 – 7
3 GM Xiong Jeffery 2656 – 6.5
4 GM Oparin Grigoriy 2638 – 6.5
5 GM Woodward Andy 2619 – 6
6 GM Aronian Levon 2725 – 5.5
7 GM Liang Awonder 2685 – 5.5
8 GM Mishra Abhimanyu 2636 – 5.5
9 GM Shankland Sam 2646 – 5
10 GM Niemann Hans Moke 2717 – 4
11 GM Robson Ray 2659 – 4
12 GM Sevian Samuel 2708 – 3.5
Rachael Li Wins First U.S. Women’s Championship Title
Sixteen-year-old rookie Woman International Master (WIM) Rachael Li of Plano, Texas has claimed her first U.S. Women’s Championship, earned $45,000 (including the Winner’s Bonus and Finish Strong Prize) and gained 50 rating points as she beat an impressive field of America’s top female players. She is the second youngest female player to capture the title.
International Master (IM) Alice Lee of North Oaks, MN, finished in second, earning $30,000 and advanced her into the U.S. Women’s No. 1 position. GM Irina Krush of Brooklyn, NY, finished in third, earning $20,000.
“I feel really relieved right now. It wasn’t easy, and I didn’t sleep well, but I’m really happy. I couldn’t have imagined this happening. I’m very thankful to my brother, Grandmaster Ruifeng Li, who helped me prepare, and to my parents, who have always supported me,” said Li. “I’d also like to thank the Sinquefields for hosting this event. I hope to be back playing next year. This has been a great opportunity, and I’ll keep pushing forward in chess. This is a great motivation for me.”
Final standings:
1 WIM Li Rachael 2380 – 8.5
2 IM Lee Alice 2467 – 8
3 GM Krush Irina2404 – 7.5
4 WGM Cervantes Landeiro Thalia 2247 – 6
5 FM Paragua Megan Althea 2234 – 6
6 WGM Yu Jennifer 2354 – 5
7 IM Yip Carissa 2484 – 4.5
8 IM Abrahamyan Tatev 2353 – 4.5
9 IM Atwell Rose 2325 – 4.5
10 IM Zatonskih Anna 2319 – 4.5
11 IM Sargsyan Anna M. 2332 – 4
12 IM Paikidze Nazi 2309 – 3
In addition, the top five finishers in the open division and the top two finishers in the women’s field have all qualified for the FIDE World Cup 2027.
