Wesley So Wins the American Cup 2026

source: chess.com

Greetings to all chess fans! Pinoy pride Wesley So won the American Cup after a finals match against Levon Aronian. He did so after a gruelling comeback win against world number three and world championship candidate Fabiano Caruana in the semifinals.

Eight top US players competed for the title except for defending champion Hikaru Nakamura who didn't join this year.

Curiously, the top four players are all imports from other countries. Fabiano Caruana from Italy, Wesley So from the Philippines, Leinier Dominguez from Cuba and Levon Aronian from Armenia. These make up the core of the US team together with Hikaru Nakamura making them a powerhouse in chess.

Wesley won the first game in the finals and held Aronian to a draw in the second game to clinch the title.

The first game was a Giucco Piano opening which I added to my repertoire after seeing Wesley use it against world champion Gukesh. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d5

Without a white Knight on c3 black has the option challenge the center and open the position. 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Nb6 9. Bb3 Bg4

Black has already equalized. All his pieces are developed and no obvious weaknesses on his camp. 10. h3 Bh5 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Ng3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 a5 14. c3 a4 15. Bc2 Kh8 16. Nf5 Bf6?! 17. d4

Wesley is threatening to sacrifice his Knight with Nxg7 followed by Qf5. Black has to defend with 17. ...g6 18. Bh6

Normally, two minor pieces for a Rook is a winning exchange but black can't take the Knight on f5. Qxf5 and mate soon follows. 18. ...Rg8 19. Ng3 exd4 20. Ne4 Bh4?! 21. Rad1 f5 22. Nc5 Re8

Black King's position is rather loose and drafty. Wesley already has big advantage. 23. Nxb7 Qf6 24. g3 g5 25. Qh5 Rg8

Now Black loses his wayward Bishop on h4. 26. gxh4 gxh4+ 27. Kh1 Rg6 28. Bxf5

Wesley didn't bother to save his Bishop on h6. The attack on black's King is more important. 28. ...Rxh6 29. Re8+ Rxe8 30. Qxe8+ Kg7 31. Rg1+ Rg6 32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Nc5 Ne7 34. Re1 Nbd5 35. Ne6+ Kh7 36. Nxd4 c5 37. Ne6 Qxf2 38. Ng5+ Kh6 39. Rg1 Kg7?! 40. Ne6+ Kh7 41. Nf8+ Kg7 42. Nxg6 1-0

Game link: https://lichess.org/broadcast/american-cup-2026--open--grand-final/game-1/CLR2GvDE/MH0GxlKW

After this win, Wesley held Levon to a draw in the second game to clinch the title.

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