Wesley So rules US Chess Championship anew

FILE PHOTO–Filipino-American chess grandmaster Wesley So play in the World Fischer Random Championship Chess final, at Henie Onstad Art Center in Baerum, Norway, on October 31, 2019. (Photo by Berit Roald / NTB Scanpix / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-American Wesley So remained unbeaten in his title run, settling for a draw with fellow super Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in the final round of the 2020 US Chess Championship.

So was the last player in the competition to not drop a match and finished with nine points on seven wins and four draws with a performance rating of 2,801.

This was So’s second US Chess championship after ruling the competition in 2017.

“Winning the US Championships for the second time is a gift at the end of a very long hard year. I know most people in the world are suffering in different ways and my prayer is that God would give you something special to help through the hard times just as He has done for me today,” wrote So on his Facebook account.

“It amazes me how many friends and encouragers take time out to watch my games even though I am sure they have their own important stuff to do. I am very grateful. I am just a kid trying to earn a living as is everyone else and to have so much support astounds me.”

So, who now plays for the US Federation after a falling out in the Philippines as the country’s top player, won $40,000 or P1.9 million in his latest triumph in the US Chess Championship.