(Updated July 23, 2010) Grandmaster Wesley So of the Philippines finds cellar dweller Paramirjan Negi of India a tough nut to crack as he was forced to a draw after 28 moves of Carokann. So is still leading with 3 points in four rounds just a half point ahead of Italian GM Fabiano Caruana and Russians GMs Evgeny Tomashevsky and Dmitry Andreikin.
Andreikin was the biggest gainer in the fourth round as he crushed English GM David Howell, to catch Tomashevsky and Andreikin for a tie of the second place lead.
The solo leader So stakes his lead over the dangerous third seeded Caruana.
Grandmasters Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, the tournament’s top seed and Anish Giri of the Netherlands are still battling as of presstime.
Standings After Fourth Round of the Biel International Chess Festival
3.0 points So (Philippines),
2.5 points Tomashevsky (Russia), Caruana (Italy), Andreikin (Russia),
2.0 Truong Son (Vietnam), Rodhstein (Israel)
1.5 points Vachier-Lagrave (France)*, Giri (Netherlands)*
1.0 Howell (England)
0.5 Negi (India)
* Playing as of presstime
Amazing So Wrests Solo Lead In Biel Chess Festival in the Third Round
Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So (2672) handling the disadvantageous black pieces pummeled erstwhile co-leader Israeli GM Maxim Rodhstein (2609) with series of remarkable maneuvers in the end game to triumph in moves of 39 Queen’s Indian Defense to hike its points output to 2.5 and took the solo lead in the 43rd Biel International Chess Festival. So missed a winning line in the middle game but recovered his lost ground to subdue his pesky Israeli opponent.

So pondering his moves against Rodhstein in the third round of Biel Chess Festival. Picture from www.bielchessfestival.ch/
Fabiano Caruana of Italy, which totes an Elo rating of 2697 dealt Indian GM Paramirjan Negi its third loss in as many games to tie Russian GM Evgeny Tomashevsky (2708) for second place with two points a piece. Tomashevsky drew his game with fellow Russian GM Dmitry Andreikin (2650).
In the other games, top seed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2723) of France was held to a draw by Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son ½ – ½ and Dutch GM Anish Giri halved the point with David Howell of England ½ – ½.
Standings After the Third Round of Biel International Chess Festival
2.5 points So (Philippines), 1.5 Rodhstein (Israel)
2.0 points Tomashevsky (Russia), Caruana (Italy)
1.5 points Vachier-Lagrave (France), Truong Son (Vietnam), Giri (Netherlands), Andreikin (Russia)
1.0 Howell (England)
0 Negi (India)

The Biel Chess Festival Participants. Picture from www.bielchessfestival.ch/