Wesley So Now Ranked 62nd Best in the World

Filipino chess whiz and sensation Wesley So’s ascend to the pinnacle of chess gets a big boosts as his ranking soar to 62^nd in the latest January, 2011,Elo Rating released by FIDE. So now totes a remarkable rating of 2673 which improved by four points.

Last November 2010, So has a rating of 2669 which is good for 73^rd spot. So is one of the top chess players in the world that doesn’t have a coach, an advantage that could’ve given him a big lift in high profile tournaments he participated in. Although he has this handicap he still managed to pull surprises and maintain a consistent performance.

In the last 2010 Asian Games held at Guangzhou, China, So helped the Philippine men’s chess team secure a silver medal in the team competition behind host China and besting crack teams like India, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

His solid game play reinforced by blind attacks makes him an enjoying player to watch as he was also invited to join in the SPICE tournament organized by GM Judith Polgar. He also played in the Group B section of the prestigious Corus tournament, where a blunder against Anish Giri of the Netherlands prevented him from taking the title.

So, Rodhstein Still Leads After the Second Round of Biel Chess Festival

It was a dull day in the second round of the 43rd Biel Chess Festival held in Switzerland as all players in five boards agreed to a truce. Grandmaster Wesley So of the Philippines springs some surprises on his game against the top seeded French Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2723) in the middle stages of the match but was wittingly neutralized by superb counter plays. The exciting match between these two feisty chess players ended in a draw after exhausting 64 moves. The Filipino number one player still leads in the tournament alongside Maxim Rodhstein (2609) of Israel which was also held to a draw by Italian rising Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana (2697). Caruana scored his second draw counting the one he had against Anish Giri who triumphed this year in the Section B of the prestigious Corus Chess Tournament also drew his game against Vachier-Lagrave in the first round.

Grandmasters David Howell of England (2616) bounced back into contention by scoring a hard fought draw against GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2617).

The drawish games between second-seed Russian GM Evgeny Tomashevsky (2708) of Russia against Parimarjan Negi (2615) of India and Anish Giri of the Netherlands (2672) over Dmitry Andreikin (2650) of Russia are still played as of press time.

So and Rodhstein still leads in the tournament by just a half point against their nearest pursuers.

Standings After Second Round

1.5 So (Philippines), Rodhstein (Israel)

1.0 Vachier-Lagrave (France), Caruana (Italy), Truong Son (Vietnam),

0.5 Giri (Netherlands)*, Tomashevsky (Russia)*, Andreikin (Russia)*, Howell (England)

0 Negi (India)*

* Playing as of press time

Wesley So Loses to Giri in Biel Chessfest in the Eighth Round

Grandmaster Wesley So of the Philippines bowed to old nemesis GM Anish Giri of the Netherlands in the eighth round of the 43rd Biel Chessfest Young Grandmaster Tournament  category and remained stacked with 4 points. So playing with the black pieces engaged Giri into complications in their English Opening (Pidgin Variation) and even pushed the Dutch number 2 player in time trouble. At the end So was in big trouble as the match was culled to just 5 pawns for both players and a Zugswang favors the white pieces with strong passive pawns on the kingside that.

The loss dashed the hopes of Wesley So of bagging the tournament’s top plum.

Almost the same fate happened to So earlier this year as he bowed to time troubled Giri after making a blunder. So missed a winning line that enabled Giri to wield the upset axe and eventually wrap up the Corus Section B championship and the automatic seeding to next year’s elite Group A.

Vietnamese GM Nguyen Truoc Son meanwhile pulled out a stunning reversal as he repulsed second seed GM Evgeny Tomashevsky  of Russia to enhance his chances of winning the tournament. Nguyen now totes 4.5 points to catch Caruana for the lead on this All-Grandmaster, single round play tournament.

Other chess matches are still played as of presstime.

Standings After the Eighth Round in the 43^rd Biel International Chess Festival

4.0 points So (Philippines), Tomashevsky (Russia), Andreikin (Russia)*, Vachier-Lagrave (France)*, Rodhstein (Israel)*, Giri (Netherlands)

2.0 points Negi (India)*, Howell (England)*

Playing as of presstime

Wesley So Keeps Share of Second Place After Seven Rounds in Biel Chessfest

Updated

Another draw for GM Wesley So of the Philippines this time against GM Nguyen Trouc Son of Vietnam to stay in a share of the second place in the 43^rd Biel Young Grandmaster Tournaent  held in Switzerland. The Filipino chess whiz finds himself in big trouble but as the battle nears the end game Wesley So managed to make a comeback and squeezed the draw. The Qc2 move of so in the 16^th proves to be very weak as Nguyen pounced on it. The Vietnamese controlled the game from then on, but So didn’t waver as he launched counter attacks and parry all the threats provided by Nguyen.

Three other games in the tournament also ended in a draw on this 10-man all-GM tournament – top seed Maxime Vachier of France against second seed Evegeny Tomashevsky, Fabiano Caruana of Italy against Anish Giri of the Netherlands and Paramirjan Negi of India against Dmitry Andreikin of Russia.

GM Maxime Rodhstein of Israel is still battling GM David Howell of England as of presstime.

Caruana still holds a very slim lead and just a half a point ahead of So, Vachier-Lagrave, and Andreikin.

Standings After Seventh Round in the 43^rd Biel International Chess Festival

4.5 points Caruana (Italy)

4.0 points So (Philippines), Tomashevsky (Russia), Andreikin (Russia), Vachier-Lagrave (France), Rodhstein (Israel)

3.5 points Nguyen (Vietnam)

3.0 points Giri (Netherlands)

2.0 points Negi (India), Howell (England)

*Playing as of presstime

Wesley So Scored a Draw Over His Russian Opponent in the Sixth Round of Biel Chess festival

Updated

Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So escaped with a draw against his second seeded opponent Russian GM Evgeny Tomashevsky in just 24 moves of Carokann in the sixth round of the 43^rd Biel Chess Festival held in Switzerland to hike his output to 3.5 points. He tied his opponent,  Russian GM Dmitry Andreikin and Israeli GM Maxim Rodhstein  for the share of the econd place. Andreikin drew his game over Rodhstein.

Italian GM Fabiano Caruana nurses a slim half point lead in the tournament by also drawing his game against Vietnamese GM Nguyen Truoc Son, to raise his total points to 4.0.

Also playing as of presstime are French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagraive and David Howell, and Dutch GM Anish Giri and Indian GM Paramirjan Negi.

Giri who is the reigning Groub Section of the Corus Chess Tournament is running into time trouble but against his opponent.

Standings After Sixth Round in the 43^rd Biel International Chess Festival

4.0 points Caruana (Italy)

3.5 points So (Philippines), Tomashevsky (Russia), Rodhstein (Israel), Andreikin (Russia), Vachier-Lagrave (France)

1.5 points Howell (England), Negi (India)*

So Loses to Caruana in the Fifth Round in Biel Chess Festival

Grandmaster Wesley So’s hold of the lead in the 43^rd Biel Chess Festival was wiped out as Italian GM Fabiano Caruana of Italy inflicted him a resounding defeat on their Carokann encounter in the fifth round match. The Filipino chess lion who now totes 2 wins, two draws and a loss and was stalled at 3.0 points now half a point behind his tormentor. Caruana seized the solo lead with 3.5 points.

Israeli GM Maxim Rodhstein who played very well for his country in the last staging of the Olympiad made up from a loss to So in the fourth round, as he bounced back into contention by outwitting favored Anish Giri of the Netherlands 1-0 to hike his points output to 3.0.

In other fifth round action, GMs Nguyen Truoc Son of Vietnam and Paramirjan Negi of India agreed to a draw, ½ – ½, the same outcome transpired with the game between second-seeded GM Evgeny Tomashevsky of Russia and David Howell of England.

The result of the game between top seed GM Maxime Vachier-Lagraive of France and Russian GM Dmitry Andreikin is still not available as they are still playing as of presstime.

So will have its hand full when it battles Tomashevsky in the sixth round.

Standings After Fifth Round of the 43^rd Biel International Chess Festival

3.5 points Caruana (Italy),

3.0 points So (Philippines), Tomashevsky (Russia), Rodhstein (Israel)

2.5 points Andreikin (Russia)*, Truong Son (Vietnam)

2.0  points Vachier-Lagrave (France)*, Giri (Netherlands)

1.5 point Howell (England)

1.0  point Negi (India)

A Draw For So in the Fourth Round in Biel Chess Festival

(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 43^rd 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/

Wesley So Nips Dutch GM For Second Win in 2010 Corus Chess

In the elite Group A Section  hostilities, GM Hikaru Nakamura of USA provided the biggest and shocking win in the eighth of the tournament by nipping undefeated GM Alexei Shirov of Spain in 41 moves of the Sveshnikov.

Wesley So Opens Corus Bid Against Naiditsch

Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands – Super grandmaster Wesley So of the Philippines open its bid in the 2010 Corus International Chess Championships at the de Moriaan Community Center Saturday when he faces top seed GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany in the first round.

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Wesley So Shock Kamsky in World Chess Cup

Filipino chess prodigy Wesley So provided another stunning reversal as he wielded another upset axe this time the scalp of GM Gata Kamsky of the United Chess to seize a commanding 1-0 lead in their third round match-up in the 2009 World Chess Cup at the Khanty-Mansiysk Centre of Arts here Friday.

The 16 year-old So, the strongest junior player in the world,  toting an Elo rating of 2640, essayed his usual yet brilliant game over his seasoned rival and the defending champion Kamsky (2695) and to extract the full point with the disadvantageous black in 53 moves of the French Defense.

When the game ended So was leading with a queen, rook, knight and four pawns against Kamsky’s queen, rook, knight and a pair of pawns.

So who stunned and eliminated GM Vassily Ivanchuk in the second round 1.5-0.5, was threatening to attack Kamsky’s vulnerable King with his more active pieces.

So said to reporter, “I really played very well against him at the opening and he spent a lot of time,” So told the official website of the World Cup, and added “I just hope that tomorrow I will be also happy.”

So refused to accept Kamsky’s offer of a draw in the 18^th, who seemed comfortable with succeeding lines.

So needs just a draw to wrap-up his series meeting with the 27^th seeded Kamsky, if So loses however the two will engage in a tiebreak matches.  

The strings of wins pile-up by So shocked the world chess community and many believes that he will follow the footsteps of Norwegian GM sensation Magnus Carlsen.

So Faces Ivanchuk in the Second Round of World Chess Cup

Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia-  Chess prodigy Wesley So unleashed his feisty form a he upended his first round foe with brilliant rapid chess game prowess to secure a berth in the second round of the 2009 World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk Festival of Arts .

The 16-year old  So won all of his three rapid tiebreak matches over Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan to seal an unassailable 4-1 victory to barge into the second round of the six-part biennial tournament.

So carried the cudgels of the three-man RP contingent after GM Darwin Laylo and Rogelio Antonio Jr. bowed to their respective higher rated rivals.

Laylo reeling on its second straight World Cup appearance lost to 21st seeded Czech GM David Navara 1-2, and joined in the sideline his compatriot Antonio as first round losers.

The highest rated player on his age group So, will be facing very formidable foe in Vassily Ivanchuk, the tournament’s sixth seed, clobbered Russian GM Alexei Bezgrodov of Russia in the first round.

Ivanchuk will be the highest rated player So will encounter. The Philippines top ranked woodpusher has a Elo rating of 2650 and is expected to give a good fight .

So already performed well in facing higher rated opponents (players with  elo rating of 2700 and above).

During the 2008 Dresden Chess Olympiad, so nipped Chinese Ni Hua and drew with Latvian Alexei hirov who is now the main skipper of the Spanish Men’s chess team. Additionally So forced a draw over GM Sergei Karjakin of Russia in Asian Chess Team Championships in Al Ain, UAE last year.

Top seed Israeli Boris Gelfand led the favorites march to the second round by blasting IM Andrei Obodchuck of Russia 1.5-0.5. Also advancing includes second seed GM Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan, who swept GM Walaa Samat of Egypt and the third-seeded Russian  GM Peter Svidler who crushed IM Jean Herbert of Canada.