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:
The Past Week in Action 21 April 2025: Fundora KOs Badillo, Retains Undisputed Belts; Smith UD Germain; Kovalev Returns with a Win
By Eric Armit, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Bantamweight Anthony Garnica Scores TKO Against Aston Palicte to Remain Undefeated
Tue, 22 Apr 2025Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
Tue, 22 Apr 2025Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 21 Apr 20252025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
Mon, 21 Apr 2025Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
Sun, 20 Apr 2025