Wesley So

Wesley So, born on October ninth, nineteen ninety-three, is a distinguished American–Filipino chess grandmaster renowned for his exceptional skills and achievements in the world of chess. He has claimed the title of U.S. Chess Champion three times and is celebrated as the inaugural World Fischer Random Chess Champion, having triumphed over Magnus Carlsen in the FIDE World Fischer Random Chess Championship.

A former chess prodigy, So made history in October two thousand eight by becoming the youngest player to surpass a two thousand six hundred Elo rating, a record previously held by Carlsen. He continued to break barriers, reaching a two thousand seven hundred rating in early two thousand thirteen and becoming the eleventh player to exceed a two thousand eight hundred Elo rating in January two thousand seventeen.

So represented the Philippines until his transfer to the United States in two thousand fourteen. His impressive accolades include victories at the Bilbao Chess Masters in two thousand fifteen, the Grand Chess Tour title in two thousand sixteen, and the Tata Steel Masters in two thousand seventeen. He also secured the Grand Chess Tour title again in two thousand twenty-one and the Sinquefield Cup in two thousand twenty-five.

On the March two thousand seventeen FIDE rating list, So was ranked number two in the world with an Elo rating of two thousand eight hundred twenty-two, marking him as the fifth-highest-rated player in chess history. His passion for chess960, or Fischer random chess, has been evident since he expressed it in two thousand nineteen, further solidifying his status as a versatile and innovative player.

In addition to his individual accomplishments, So represented the United States on board three at the forty-second Chess Olympiad, where he contributed to winning both team and individual gold medals, showcasing his talent on an international stage.