Checkmate.
After three attempts since 2015, Filipino American Wesley So has won the 2017 U.S. Chess Championship, which took place from March 29 to April 10 in St. Louis. As a result of competing against the top 12 U.S. chess players and coming out on top, the 23-year-old won the $50,000 grand prize.
“I really wanted to win this one this year … because it’s the strongest national competition in the world,” So said. “All the great [U.S.] players have won this one.”
So, born in Cavite, in the Philippines, started playing and competing when he was 9 years old and eventually became the youngest Filipino grandmaster at age 14. After continuing to win within multiple tournaments, So eventually arrived in the U.S. on a college chess scholarship in 2012, when he was ranked No. 99 in the world.
Now, So is ranked No. 2, behind only the world champion. He is currently aiming to secure one of eight spots in what is called the Candidates Tournament, the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship. If he wins this tournament, which will likely occur next spring, he will then be able to challenge Magnus Carlsen, the current world chess champion, for Carlsen’s title.
“[So] is very hard to beat, very levelheaded, very practical, and he’s growing in front of us,” said grandmaster Maurice Ashley. “Imagine how strong he’s going to be in two years.”
