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Wesley So wins U.S. Chess Championship

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Wesley So wins U.S. Chess Championship" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/11/03/wes.jpg"/></figure></div><p><br/>Chess grandmaster (GM) Wesley So added another trophy to his collection by winning the 2021 U.S. Chess Championship, Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) at the Saint Louis Chess Club.</p><p>So won a grand prize of $50,000 after emerging triumphant in the 12-player field.</p><p>The 28-year-old So won a playoff tiebreak against GM Fabiano Caruana and GM Sam Sevian, beating his opponents in a rapid playoff.</p><p>So defeated Caruana in 46 moves using the black pieces, though Caruana stayed in the hunt when he beat Sevian in 49 moves in his next match.</p><p>So, who famously switched federations from the Philippines to the United States in 2014, needed only a draw against Sevian to win the title but was superb in beating the 20-year-old American GM in 33 moves.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QpWOLT1hMYw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>&quot;I just wanted to play fast today and make some good moves,&quot; said So in an interview with <a href="https://www.chess.com/news/view/wesley-so-wins-2021-us-chess-championship">chess.com</a>. &quot;I was playing with no pressure.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I did not expect this playoff, so I was just playing chess. If chances come, good. If I lose, that&#x27;s fine,&quot; he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/05/21/for-a-better-future-chess-gm-wesley-so-now-officially-a-us-citizen">READ: Chess GM Wesley So now officially a US citizen</a></li></ul><p>The three GMs were tied with scores of 6.5 after 11 rounds of competition, triggering the playoff for the title.</p><p>Caruana and Sevian both earned $30,000 after sharing second place.</p>

GM Wesley So added another trophy to his collection by winning the 2021 U.S. Chess Championship, Tuesday at the Saint Louis Chess Club.