Grandmaster Awonder Liang has secured the title at the 2026 Seirawan Chess Championship, delivering a dominant performance to win the online tournament without losing a single match. Liang's victory was punctuated by a decisive series of wins against Poland’s Fide Master Jakub Chyzy, whom Liang defeated with a 3–0 score in both the winners’ final and the grand final.
The championship utilized an eight-player double elimination format, featuring best-of-four-game matches to determine the ultimate winner. Throughout the competition, Liang maintained an undefeated streak, navigating the brackets to face Chyzy in the final stages. Chyzy finished the tournament as the runner-up, receiving a $500 prize, while the other finalists also earned cash prizes for their performances.
This victory marks a significant return to the top of the podium for Liang, who previously won the Seirawan Chess Championship in 2024. By repeating this achievement, Liang has once again demonstrated elite-level mastery within the competitive chess landscape.
The 2026 event, held in an online format, showcased high-level tactical play as the eight-player field competed through the rigorous double elimination structure to crown the champion.