Wesley So Leaves His Queen Hanging, Then Strikes Back to Defeat Ian Nepomniachtchi

American chess grandmaster Wesley So, representing the United States on the international stage, enters a sharp French Defense battle against Ian Nepomniachtchi. The position builds quietly at first, but a stunning tactical sequence suddenly turns this chess game into a calculation test. In the middlegame, Wesley allows his queen to be captured before answering with a forcing knight check and taking Ian's queen in return. This precise tactical sequence leads to a queenless battle where piece activity, rook placement, and accurate calculation become crucial. The game then shifts into a demanding endgame, and Wesley steadily increases the pressure. His active rook, well-placed bishop, and dangerous outside passed pawn force Ian to defend an increasingly difficult position. Watch the full chess analysis to see how Wesley combines tactics, strategy, and endgame technique to convert this complex grandmaster chess battle. If you enjoyed this game, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!