Wesley So commented on his victory at the GCT Sinquefield Cup 2026. Wesley says he is not proud of making quick draws, and notes that they helped him conserve energy.

Wesley So

Wesley So

American GM

“I’m not proud of the early draws, but it’s a part of a bigger strategy…

And it worked well. I knew I made two quick draws with white. So, I’m not especially proud of that. But at the same time, it preserved a lot of energy for me. It also gave me time to prepare and gave me time to recover.

It worked perfectly.”

The GCT Sinquefield Cup 2026 took place from August 10 to 20, at the Saint Louis Chess Club in Missouri, USA. Wesley So and Praggnanandhaa R finished tied at the top with 5.5/9 points each. Both Rapid games ended in a draw in the Playoff. Wesley drew with Black in the Armageddon and won the tournament. Wesley So became the first player to win two Sinquefield Cups in a row.

Credit: Lennart Ootes