Wesley So – "The Accuracy Machine"

Wesley So (born 1993) is a chess prodigy from the Philippines who transferred to the USA in 2014. He quickly became one of America's strongest players, rivaling Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura.

His games often match the top engine line (Stockfish) more frequently than any other player. He avoids complications unless he has calculated them to a win, making him incredibly hard to beat.

Also known as Chess960, it is a variant where the pieces are shuffled on the back rank. Wesley So is the first official FIDE World Champion of this format, proving his pure understanding of chess without opening theory.

Yes, he is a regular winner of "Titled Tuesday" and the "Champions Chess Tour," often playing from his home in Minnesota.

He shocked the world by destroying Magnus Carlsen in the final match with a score of 13.5–2.5 to become the first official champion.

He won the ultra-competitive US Chess Championship in 2017, 2020, and 2021.

He played Board 3 for the USA, winning the individual Gold medal and helping the USA team win their first Olympiad Gold in 40 years.

In 2017, he achieved the 5th highest rating in history, ranking as World #2.

From 2016 to 2017, he played 43 elite classical games without a single loss, winning three super-tournaments in a row.

He won the "Wimbledon of Chess" in Wijk aan Zee ahead of Carlsen, Aronian, and Wei Yi.

He won the overall Grand Chess Tour in 2016 and 2021, proving his consistency across the entire year.

With White, he is one of the world's leading experts on the Catalan Opening, using it to squeeze opponents positionally.

With Black, his usage of the Berlin Defense is so solid that many top players simply refuse to play 1.e4 against him.

He became a Grandmaster at age 14 years, 1 month, and 28 days, breaking the Philippine record and becoming the 7th youngest in history at the time.

He won the 2021 Paris GCT event, showing he is just as deadly in speed chess as in classical.

He defeated Magnus Carlsen in the final of the first event of the Champions Chess Tour, cementing his status as Carlsen's kryptonite in rapid formats.

He won the 2016 Sinquefield Cup, a key victory that propelled him to the 2800 club.

His games are often used by coaches to teach prophylaxis because he commits fewer unforced errors than almost any active player.

He is openly religious and often credits God for his victories in interviews, maintaining a humble demeanor.

His move from the Philippines to the USA in 2014 shifted the balance of power in the chess world, making the USA a superpower again.

For a time, he held the record for the highest score on Chess.com's "Puzzle Rush," showing his pattern recognition is instant.

While known for solidity, his early games (like his win against Ivanchuk) show he can calculate violent attacks when the position demands it.

He treats chess as a serious job, with rigorous physical fitness and opening study routines.

An internet meme says the "W" stands for "Winning" because for long stretches of time, he simply does not lose games.