Chess: Fabiano Caruana, world No 2, wins fourth US Championship title

Caruana showed his clear superiority in the open event at St Louis, while Carissa Yip won her first eight games in the women’s championship

Fabiano Caruana, the world No 2, retained his national title on Wednesday when he scored an unbeaten 7/10 in the US Championship at St Louis. First prize was $62,000 (£48,000). Caruana’s winning margin was a ­comfortable point and a half, following a final round where he won while his ­nearest rivals all drew or lost leading to a six-way tie for second on 5.5/10.

The runners-up included the controversial Hans Niemann, who cemented his place among the world top 20, the rising talents Samuel Sevian and Awonder Liang, and the established grandmasters Levon Aronian, Ray Robson and Leinier Domínguez. Wesley So, a pre-­tournament favourite, scored 5/10, drew every game, and dropped out of the world’s top 10.

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