Here's the scoop, direct from US Chess: Wesley So Is 2020 US Chess Champion After Crushing Performance
So kicked off the title event with five consecutive wins and never looked back, finishing undefeated plus-7 with an astounding 9/11 score. That high-mark result has only been topped twice in U.S. Championship history, both times by Robert James Fischer.
This is pretty well-known by this point, but it's been quite interesting to watch the sport of chess evolve over the last few years, accelerated of course by this year's COVID situation.
So earned his new title as America’s player-to-beat from his bedroom in Minnesota, after playing in the national championship event organized online by the Saint Louis Chess Club. This year’s crown tournament, which collected 12 of the best U.S. players, was adjusted because of COVID restrictions and featured all games with a rapid G/25+5 time control.
Chess is thriving across the planet, with nearly-universal world-wide popularity, and tremendous players from the Far East, the Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia joining existing chess communities from Europe and North America in online tournaments enabled by the Internet.
Chess also is attracting young players of phenomenal talent. This year's entrants in the US Championship were aged: 17, 19, 19, 25, 26, 26, 28, 30, 32, 32, 35, and 36.
And, of course, there are some spectacular games available to replay and enjoy! You just gotta love the game between So and Xiong in round 9 which decided the championship.
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