Grandmaster Wesley So Defends Title, Wins 2026 Sinquefield Cup

Top Four Full Tour Players Head to Grand Chess Tour Finals in Saint Louis

SAINT LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So has once again claimed the 2026 Sinquefield Cup, defeating Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa in a playoff Armageddon game to capture the prestigious title for the third time and winning $103,125 in the final leg of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour. With the victory, So becomes a three-time Sinquefield Cup champion.

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Wesley So won the Sinquefield Cup, part of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT), to secure the title and advance to the GCT Final.

“Winning the Sinquefield Cup two times in a row means a lot to me, especially because no one has done that before,” said So. “I’m also very happy to qualify for the GCT Finals. I’d like to thank my mother, Rex and Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield, and the entire GCT team for all the work they’ve done to make this event a success.”

GM Praggnanandhaa R. finished second, earning $100,937, while GMs Vincent Keymer and Javokhir Sindarov tied for third.

“The Saint Louis Chess Club is proud to host the U.S. GCT legs and the 2026 GCT Finals, bringing world-class, competitive chess to Saint Louis each year,” said Rex Sinquefield, co-founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club. “Congratulations to GM Wesley So on winning the Sinquefield Cup for the third time. We look forward to seeing all the players compete for the GCT title in the Finals, and wish them the best of luck!”

2026 Sinquefield Cup Results

Top Four Advance to GCT Finals

The tour will come to a dramatic conclusion during the 2026 GCT Finals, set for Aug. 22-27, 2026 at the Saint Louis Chess Club. GMs Praggnanandhaa R., Wesley So, Fabiano Caruana and Vincent Keymer will advance to the finals, where they will battle for a $450,000 prize fund in an intense knockout competition featuring two Classical games, two Rapid games and four Blitz games. With the 2026 GCT title on the line, only one player will emerge as champion.

The final regular season standings are as follows:

Follow all the chess action in Saint Louis by watching the professional commentary team including GMs Yasser Seirawan, Maurice Ashley and Peter Svidler, as well as International Master (IM) Nazi Paikidze on the STLCC’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

This year’s GCT participants are competing for a prize purse of $2 million over the course of the full tour. The prize fund is provided by the 2026 GCT major sponsors Super Foundation and Saint Louis Chess Club, both non-profit organizations that support chess education and the mission to expand the game of chess to a worldwide audience.

The GCT today announced a leadership transition, with Michael Khodarkovsky stepping down from his role as Executive Director. Michael has led the GCT in this capacity since its inception, playing a central role in building the Tour into the premier international over-the-board chess circuit. During his tenure, he brokered key deals, negotiated sponsorships, and worked closely with the Board of Directors and the GCT team to establish a strong international circuit and prize fund.

“Eleven seasons ago, we started with an idea, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished since then. It began here in Saint Louis, when Garry Kasparov and I came together to brainstorm the idea of the Tour. Rex Sinquefield believed in it, and we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We have accomplished everything I set out to do, and now it’s time to step down and bring a younger generation of leadership to the organization. I’m not saying goodbye; I’m saying au revoir and it’s especially appropriate to say that here in Saint Louis. I’m excited about what’s ahead for the Tour, with new stops and sponsors to come, and I wish everyone well,” said Michael Khodarkovsky.

Alex Onischuk will succeed Michael as Executive Director, bringing his experience and leadership to the role as the GCT continues to strengthen its world-class events and expand opportunities for the world’s top players to compete at the highest level. The GCT thanks Michael for his many contributions and wishes Alex great success in his new role.

For more information about the Grand Chess Tour, visit grandchesstour.org.

Grand Chess Tour

The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is a circuit of international events, each demonstrating the highest level of organization for the world's best players. The legendary Garry Kasparov, one of the world's greatest ambassadors for chess, inspired the GCT and helped solidify the partnership between the organizers. For more information about the tour, please visit grandchesstour.org.

Super Foundation

The Super Foundation, a non-profit organization, is responsible for coordinating the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of Super Technologies. Their goal is to support the advancement of health, education, and sports initiatives, with a special emphasis on promoting the game of chess and its myriad benefits within all the communities they serve.

Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making chess a vital part of the community and advancing Saint Louis’s reputation as the nation’s premier chess destination—the U.S. Chess Capital. In addition to hosting world-class tournaments and providing a welcoming space for casual and competitive play, the Club offers a robust slate of educational programming, including beginner lessons, chess improvement classes, lectures, and special events for players of all ages and skill levels.

Recognizing the cognitive, academic, and social benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is deeply committed to scholastic education. The Club supports existing chess programs in area schools while actively developing new in-school and after-school initiatives that introduce students to the game and help young players thrive both on and off the board. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260821072796/en/

For more information, please contact:
GCT Public Relations
Email: [email protected]

Source: Grand Chess Tour

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