Fabiano Caruana is the new US Champion! He eliminated all doubt by smashing through with the black pieces in the late middlegame against tournament last place finisher (and only non-GM participant) IM Akshat Chandra. It looked for awhile that Wesley So might convert his pawn advantage (gained out of the opening with black against Aleksandr Lenderman), but Lenderman had two bishops against a bishop and knight, and that duo continually gave him compensation - although never for more than a draw. When Caruana won, it was no longer an issue of whether So could win and tie for first, but by only drawing he fell into a second place tie. Defending champion Hikaru Nakamura never really had anything as black against fourth place finisher Ray Robson and had to settle for that equal second (a full point back of the winner) along with So.
My guess is this ‘top four’ will contest for the championship for years to come - although the young GM Jeffrey Xiong (who turned in a good performance) will also likely have something to say about that. The future looks very bright for great contests for the US Championship for years to come!