SO VS MALAKHOV: JUST HOW FAR CAN THE PINOY PRODIGY GO?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Nov 2009
SO VS MALAKHOV: JUST HOW FAR CAN THE PINOY PRODIGY GO?
Filipino chess fans will be glued to their seats again tonight, monitoring the live internet broadcasts of the World Chess Cup fourth round match between 16 year Old GM Wesley So versus GM Vladimir Malakhov of Russia.
Pacland's chess forum has been buzzing with activity ever since So became the sensation of the 2009 World Cup, beating two of the world's best - Vasily Ivanchuk and defending World Cup champ Gata Kamsky.
The 29 year old Malakhov is a former World Under-14 Champion and has an ELO rating of 2715. He plays mostly the Sicilian defense or the Slav as black and most of his white games have opened with 1.e4, even though he has used the English on certain occasions. He previously qualified for the Candidates matches in 2007. Malakhov won his two tie break games against Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine last Sunday.
So entered the World Cup with a 2640 ELO. He has preferred using e4 as white and the Sicilian and Queen's Indian as black but he has varied his choices against top level players; using the French defense in his wins against Ivanchuk and Kamsky and opened with d4 against Ivanchuk and c4 in his second game against Kamsky.
Just how far can Wesley So progress in this tournament? He has shocked every one so far, even the most fanatical Filipino sports fans. Highly ranked players still not eliminated include Boris Gelfand of Israel, Russians Peter Svidler and Alexander Grishuk, Ukrainians Ruslan Ponomariov and Sergey Karjakin and Spain's Alexei Shirov.
Whatever happens tonight, So's performance has made us proud and corporate sponsors should shoulder his training. Present World Champion Viswanathan Anand of India lived in the Philippines when he was nine years old and it was here that he learned to play chess. But he sharpened his skills playing against top notch players in Europe. Exposure and proper training is the key.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 30 Jan 2026“It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Fri, 30 Jan 2026ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
Fri, 30 Jan 2026