Wesley So claimed his fourth US Chess Championship title by beating Fabiano Caruana 1½–½ in rapid playoffs after a dramatic classical tournament.
So entered the final round on a 48-game unbeaten streak at this event. Sam Sevian ended that run with a loss that knocked So out of first place and forced the tiebreak. The rapid playoff was messy but compelling. Both players made mistakes, yet So converted his chances when it mattered. He won one game decisively and drew the other to secure the trophy.
This marks So's fourth US Championship, cementing his status among America's elite. Caruana pushed hard in the playoffs but couldn't overcome So's composure under pressure. The classical tournament itself proved grueling. Reaching the tiebreak meant the real battle happened at faster time controls, where So demonstrated superior technique.
So's streak ending to Sevian stung, but he answered immediately. That's championship mentality. He didn't collapse after the loss in round nine. Instead, he regrouped and defeated Caruana when the stakes were highest. The playoffs exposed both players' vulnerabilities, yet So's experience and precision prevailed when rapid chess demanded it.