MANILA, Philippines—Unbeaten in his title run, Filipino-American chess-master Wesley So remained and once again became the US grand champion of the 2020 US Chess Championship, settling for a draw with fellow super Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura.
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.