U.S. Chess Championships: So Takes the Open Lead as Li and Lee Share First in the Women’s Event
The 2026 U.S. Chess Championship and U.S. Women’s Chess Championship reached a pivotal point in round seven, with momentum shifting across both fields. Wesley So emerged as the Open tournament’s sole leader after recovering from a difficult position to defeat Ray Robson. In the women’s competition, teenagers Rachael Li and Alice Lee moved into a tie for first after winning their games, while overnight leader Tatev Abrahamyan Cervantes suffered her first defeat.
With five points, So is the only unbeaten player in the Open standings. Fabiano Caruana and Jeffery Xiong remain within striking distance on 4.5 points after drawing their round-seven encounters. Awonder Liang, who had shared the lead entering the round, endured a costly loss to Sam Shankland in just 27 moves. The results underline how quickly the standings can change in a demanding elite chess tournament.
Open Championship: So Survives a Complicated Fight
Round seven began with four players level at the top, creating several games with direct consequences for the title race. Caruana, a five-time U.S. champion, and So, a three-time winner, were among the players drawing particular attention. Yet it was their encounter with Robson that produced the round’s most dramatic story.
So appeared to handle the middlegame comfortably and reached a position that seemed close to equal. However, exchanging queens and entering an endgame gave Robson practical chances. Robson built an advantage and chose to keep playing rather than repeat the position and secure a draw. The decision created a tense contest, but the game’s balance shifted again as both players faced difficult choices and mounting time pressure.
Robson could have repeated the position with 30.Ne5+, but instead played 30.f4, keeping the struggle alive. The ambitious choice ultimately proved costly. As the first time control approached, Robson lost his way in a bishop endgame, allowing So to turn the tables and claim a valuable win. The result lifted So to sole first and made the game one of the defining moments of the round.
Liang’s Difficult Day
Liang’s defeat was another major development. His decision to close the center with 17…c5 left his dark-squared bishop with limited influence, and his position became increasingly difficult to manage. Later tactical oversights gave Shankland the opportunity to finish the game in 27 moves—a surprisingly quick result between two grandmasters.
The loss may also reflect the strain of a long tournament. As players approach the final rounds, fatigue can affect calculation, time management, and the ability to spot familiar tactical ideas. Liang nevertheless kept his sense of humor, joking in the confessional booth that the snacks had improved. It was a light moment on a difficult day, and a reminder of the personalities behind the intense competition.
Caruana’s game ended in a 44-move draw after neither side managed to break the balance. Another previous co-leader, Andy Woodward, also split the point after his kingside activity failed to create enough pressure against his opponent. Meanwhile, Levon Aronian recorded his first victory of the event, using the bishop pair effectively before defending carefully against Shankland’s counterplay.
So now leads on five points, with Caruana and Xiong on 4.5. The remaining rounds promise little room for error: in a 12-player round-robin, every game can influence both the standings and the title contenders’ chances. So’s meeting with Woodward is among the key pairings to watch in round eight.
Women’s Championship: Li and Lee Set the Pace
The women’s standings tightened after a round featuring five decisive games. Rachael Li and Alice Lee both won to reach 5.5 points and share the lead. Their success came as Cervantes, previously unbeaten and part of the leading group, lost to Lilit Sargsyan after an ambitious kingside plan backfired.
Cervantes had been the event’s only undefeated player, but her attempt to increase the pressure left weaknesses around her king. Sargsyan took advantage in the late middlegame, while Cervantes also had little time to find a safe defence. The result ended her unbeaten run and demonstrated the risks of pushing too hard when a position offers no clear route to progress.
Li’s Composure Pays Off
Li’s victory was notable for both its quality and her calm approach. The 16-year-old has said that her brother, grandmaster Hans Niemann, has helped with opening preparation. But preparation alone does not explain her strong form: Li has also shown confidence in unfamiliar positions and an ability to play with a clear strategic purpose.
After the game, she said she had arrived without major expectations and was simply looking to make the most of the opportunity. That relaxed outlook appeared to carry over to the board. Li chose an unconventional opening approach, then followed it with a direct middlegame plan that gave her a convincing win. In a championship where pressure often builds with every round, her measured attitude could prove valuable.
Lee, 17, also secured an important victory, defeating an International Master despite early moments of discomfort. Her response to a setback in the previous round was equally striking. She described that loss as “not the end of the world” and emphasized that her title chances remained in her own hands. With both teenagers now tied at the top, their consistency and ability to handle pressure will be central to the closing stages.
Krush Stays in Contention
Eight-time U.S. champion Irina Krush produced one of the round’s most entertaining games against Carissa Yip. The battle grew out of a complex opening and remained difficult to assess as both players navigated time pressure. The position shifted repeatedly before Yip’s final mistake allowed Krush to secure the win.
Krush now has five points, just half a point behind Li and Lee. Her experience makes her an important contender, and the result keeps the women’s title race open. With the leaders facing the pressure of being chased and Krush close behind, round eight could bring another significant change to the standings.
Round Eight and Tournament Details
Round eight is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 1 p.m. ET, 19:00 CEST, and 10:30 p.m. IST. The Open event features So at the top, while the women’s section centers on the race between Li and Lee, with Krush still within reach. Fans can follow the games through the Saint Louis Chess Club’s coverage and event pages.
Both championships are 12-player single round-robin events being held in St. Louis from October 9 to 22. Players receive 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The Open championship offers a $250,000 prize fund, including $55,000 for first place. The women’s event has a $152,000 purse, with $35,000 going to the champion.
As the tournaments enter their final stretch, chess fans can expect more high-stakes decisions, tactical opportunities, and tests of endurance. Round seven showed that even a strong position is no guarantee of safety—and that one well-timed win can reshape an entire championship.
