Champions Final Set for The American Cup 2026: Caruana and So Lead the Charge, Yip and Lee Face Off in Women’s Final

GMs Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So Advance to Champions Final of The American Cup 2026

St. Louis, MO — In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, Grandmasters Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So have secured their spots in the Champions Final of The American Cup 2026. After a tense classical portion that ended in draws, both players triumphed in the blitz tiebreaks, defeating GMs Awonder Liang and Sam Sevian, respectively, with scores of 1.5-0.5.

The day began with a surprise birthday celebration for legendary commentator GM Maurice Ashley, who turned 60, adding a festive atmosphere to the intense competition. As the Champions Bracket progressed, the Elimination Bracket players took a well-deserved rest day, setting the stage for the upcoming matches.

Open Bracket: A Battle of Titans

Caruana and So, the top two seeds, showcased their prowess in the blitz playoffs. So, reflecting on the classical games, noted, “As long as you don’t lose a game, you’re still in the tournament. You want to win, but at the same time, you don’t want to risk too much.” His strategy paid off as he outmaneuvered Sevian, capitalizing on a critical mistake in the first blitz game.

Caruana, on the other hand, faced Liang, who opted for the Exchange Variation of the Caro-Kann Defense. Despite a lackluster classical game, Caruana seized the opportunity in blitz, exploiting Liang’s weak first rank to secure victory.

“This will be my third time in the Champions Final,” Caruana remarked, expressing confidence in facing So. “Wesley is super strong, but it’s not unexpected to see him here.”

Women’s Bracket: Friends Turn Rivals

In a unique twist, the Women’s American Cup 2026 Champions Final will feature two friends, IMs Carissa Yip and Alice Lee. Despite their camaraderie, this will be their first one-on-one match. Yip advanced after a tactical draw against IM Tatev Abrahamyan, while Lee narrowly escaped disaster against WGM Zoey Tang.

“I can’t say I love playing my friends… but it’s fine; we’re both used to it at this point,” Yip commented on the upcoming match.

The Elimination Bracket will see IM Anna Sargsyan face Tang, while Abrahamyan takes on WIM Rachael Li, as the competition heats up.

Upcoming Matches

Day five of The American Cup is set for Saturday, March 7, starting at 1:10 p.m. ET. With both the Champions and Elimination Brackets in full swing, chess enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the next round of matches.

As the stakes rise, the question remains: who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes tournament? With a prize fund of $250,000 in the open and $150,000 in the women’s tournament, the competition is fiercer than ever.

Stay tuned for more updates as the drama unfolds at The American Cup 2026!