Fabiano Caruana gets a second life. Wesley So held a full point going into round 11 and should have clinched his first U.S. title. He didn't. So stumbled in the final round, and now Caruana, a four-time defending champion, will face him in a playoff for the crown.
The real story belongs to Rachael Li. The rookie just won the U.S. Women's Championship, breaking through at the highest level of American chess. Li delivered the breakthrough performance many expected from her, and she did it when it mattered most.
So's collapse is the kind of thing that haunts players for years. He had the title in his hands. One solid draw would have done it. Instead, he lost the match when victory was within reach. The playoff gives Caruana a chance most thought he wouldn't get. Five consecutive titles is rare territory. Four is already a historic achievement.
For Li, the women's title marks her arrival as a force in American chess. She beat the established names in her section and proved the hype surrounding her game was justified. The women's championship produced a genuine upset, while the open section delivered pure drama. Caruana gets his chance to extend his dynasty. So gets a second round.