The 2026 U.S. Chess Championship has commenced in St. Louis, Missouri, with top contenders Wesley So, Awonder Liang, and Jeffery Xiong all securing victories in the opening round. The tournament, which began on October 9, 2026, saw these players establish early momentum in the prestigious competition.
In the men's division, Wesley So earned a decisive win against Sam Shankland. Awonder Liang, coming off a dominant performance at the 2026 Seirawan Chess Championship where he went undefeated, continued his winning streak by defeating Hans Niemann. Jeffery Xiong also secured a first-round victory by overcoming Sam Sevian.
The women's championship also saw successful starts for its leading participants. Rachael Li, Anna Zatonskih, Thalia Cervantes, and Megan Paragua all opened their campaigns with wins, setting the stage for the upcoming rounds in St. Louis.
These opening results follow a highly active period for several Grandmasters. Earlier in October, GM Mitrabha Guha claimed the 2026 Commonwealth Chess Championship in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, finishing unbeaten with 7.5 points. Additionally, GM Awonder Liang recently secured the 2026 Seirawan Chess Championship title after defeating FM Jakub Chyzy 3–0 in both the Winners Final and Grand Final.
As the 2026 U.S. Chess Championship progresses, the field remains highly competitive following these initial results. No overall tournament winner has been declared as the event continues in Missouri.