SO?S MAGICAL WORLD CUP RIDE ENDS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 02 Dec 2009
Russian GM Vladimir Malakhov dominated the tie-break rapid matches against Filipino GM Wesley So, ending the 16 year old prodigy?s dreams of advancing to the elite eight.
Malakhov played in white pieces in the first game of their rapid tie-break games. The 29 year old Malakhov was steadier in the endgame and won after 55 moves.
In the second game, The 16 year old So tried to equalize in a tense endgame where he had a rook and bishop against the Russian?s rook and knight with four pawns each. Rooks were subsequently exchanged and it became a race as to who would be able to create a passed pawn for Queen promotion. But Malakhov was steadier down the stretch once again and So capitulated on the 60th move. Malakhov?s f- pawn was two squares away from queening and his knight poised to drive away So?s defending king.
In the third game Malakov won again in 32 moves.
The FIDE World Chess Cup 2009 is taking place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from November 20th to December 15th 2009. It is a seven-round knockout event with six rounds of matches comprising two games per round, with the winners progressing to the next round. There were only 16 players left in the fourth round. The finals or seventh round consists of four games.
So?s spectacular World Cup victories over Vasily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and defending World Cup champion Gata Kamsky of the U.S. have been covered by various international chess websites. They have referred to the Philippines as a ?non-chess playing nation?.
Many here will argue with that description but it has been a long time ? not since Eugene Torre was in his prime during the 1980?s ? that a Filipino performed in such a spectacular fashion on the world stage.
We used to be Asia?s best, now we are far behind India and China.
Our government and sports officials can and should do something about not letting another raw Pinoy talent fend for himself against better funded and better trained opposition. He is getting some support now but we know he needs more.
For Wesley So to progress to the next level and become a truly elite woodpusher, he will not just constant exposure against elite players but a top level coach as well.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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