Wesley So keeps Sinquefield crown, bags P5.4 million

CHAMPION. Wesley So wins the 2026 Sinquefield Cup.

Grand Chess Tour X page

After crashing out of the world top 10 last year, Filipino-born Wesley So has since gained ground as he becomes the winningest player in Sinquefield Cup history with three solo titles

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-born Wesley So sustained his climb in the world rankings by besting Indian sensation Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the Armageddon on Wednesday, August 19 (Thursday, August 20, Philippine time) and keeping the Sinquefield Cup crown in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States.

So, pride of Bacoor, Cavite, and Praggnanandhaa both finished with 5.5 points after the 10-man, round-robin classical matches, then drew the two rapid playoffs, necessitating the decider, where white is given five minutes and black four. So only needed a draw to win the match and the $87,500 (P5.4 million) champion’s purse.

🏆 WESLEY SO WINS THE 2026 SINQUEFIELD CUP!
Congratulations to Wesley So, who defeats Praggnanandhaa in a dramatic playoff to claim the Sinquefield Cup for the second year in a row and for the third time in his career! 🔥👏
After two draws in the rapid playoff games, it all came… pic.twitter.com/MZ0Oc2padA

— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) August 19, 2026

The 32-year-old So did just that to become the tournament’s winningest with three solo titles, counting his victory in the 2016 edition. Fabiano Caruana also has three, but shared the title with Levon Aronian in 2018.

So, also a three-time United States champion, drew with German No. 1 Vincent Keymer in the first round, before notching back-to-back wins against Dutch star Jorden van Foreest and Caruana.

The first World Fischer Random Chess champion, So drew his remaining games against Praggnanandhaa, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Anish Giri, and Sam Sevian in succession.

Last week, So placed third in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz behind Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov.

Congratulations to Wesley So on winning his third Sinquefield Cup title and $87,500! "You can't win all tournaments, not this year!" he told Praggnanandhaa after the game. pic.twitter.com/jeAyOyXB1K

— chess24 (@chess24com) August 19, 2026

With his return to form, So rose to world No. 5, behind Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Caruana, and Sindarov.

On August 23, So will try to complete a remarkable month when he plays in the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals with Caruana, Keymer, and Praggnanandhaa.

Rated as high as world No. 2 in 2017, So crashed out of the top 10 last year, but has since gained ground with solid classical play. – Rappler.com