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:
Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 11 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
Wed, 10 Sep 2025CROCKER-DONOVAN II: INSIDE LOOK AT FIRST FACE-OFF IN BELFAST
Wed, 10 Sep 2025Former Panamanian WBA champ Jorge Lujan hospitalized
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Southern Sports Heroes Night on Sept. 28
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
Tue, 09 Sep 2025