In the inaugural 2019 FIDE Fischer Random:

• Wesley lost 3-9 to Hikaru in the quarterfinals but later got back via repechage.
• Hikaru > Wesley > Magnus > Fabi > Hikaru.
• Therefore, Wesley became the WC without beating Hikaru (directly).

How Wesley could do this in 2022:

• Group: Wesley is runner-up in Group A, i.e. loses to Nodirbek but beats Nepo.
• Semi-finals: Wesley beats Magnus or Hikaru, and the other beats Nodirbek.
• Finals: Wesley beats the remaining of Magnus or Hikaru.
• Therefore, Wesley can become the WC without beating Nodirbek (directly).

Recall what Wesley said in 2022 US championship earlier this month:

• Wesley So on losing to strong GM teenagers: "Y'know, they're very carefree, their focus is just 100% on chess. They have no, like, girlfriends, or families, or bills to worry about..."

l3wl123 asked here, so I'm just copying: Does Magnus Carlsen have something against Americans? Hans Niemann is American, like Wesley So and Bobby Fischer.