The excitement at the US Chess Championship reached its peak in round seven. Three-time national champion Wesley So defeated Ray Robson with the black pieces in a hard-fought battle, taking the sole lead with a score of 5/7. His closest pursuers, Fabiano Caruana and young talent Andy Woodward, both drew their games, remaining half a point behind the tournament leader.

A Comeback and Critical Endgame Against Robson

Wesley So's victory over Robson was anything but simple. Despite obtaining a satisfactory position early on, So allowed his opponent to take control heading into the endgame. However, Robson failed to maintain his advantage as the players approached the first time control. Following inaccuracies from both sides, the position simplified into a bishop endgame where So possessed two connected passed pawns. Unable to find the precise defensive continuation, Robson was forced to concede, allowing So to secure his fourth win of the event.

Title Race Heats Up

Awonder Liang, who had entered the round sharing first place, suffered his second defeat of the tournament against Grigoriy Oparin and dropped to 4/7. With just four rounds remaining, the tournament heads into a decisive phase. Round eight will feature a crucial direct clash between Wesley So and Andy Woodward, with the latter looking to catch the leader ahead of Sunday's rest day. Meanwhile, in the women's event, Alice Lee and Rachael Li continue to share first place.