WESLEY SO BEATS TOMMY NYBACK TO CREATE A THREE-WAY TIE FOR 2ND
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 28 Jan 2010
MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- FILIPINO GM Wesley Barbasa So turned back Finland's top player GM Tommy Nyback after 46 moves of Slav defense using the disadvantageous black pieces and created a three-way tie for second place and kept the Philippine flag alive in Wednesday’s tenth round of the 72nd Corus International Chess Championship Group B at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.
The 16-year-old So currently has 6.5 points, the same output of GM Erwin L'Ami of the Netherlands and GM Ni Hua of China.
L'Ami split the point with GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania after 21 moves of King's Indian Classical while Ni settled a truce with GM Parimarjan Negi of India after 51 moves of Gruenfeld defense.
Overnight leader GM Anish Giri of the Netherlands remains on top with 7 points with three rounds to go in the 13 round-robin format. The Dutch champion Giri, a teen of Nepali origin, drew with top seed GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany) after 22 moves of Semi-Tarrasch Defence.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. commented, “We (at NCFP) hope that Wesley (So) can maintain his momentum going to the last three rounds,” said Pichay, who is religiously following So’s games despite his hectic schedule at the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) office.
Pichay, along with Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/President Hector "Chito" Tagaysay, both long-time benefactor of the Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid, funded the Netherlands trip of So.
In Group A, former world champion GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia settled to a truce with GM Leinier Dominguez Perez of Cuba in 23 moves of Petroff’s defense to grab solo leadership with 7 points.
GM Alexei Shirov of Spain meantime, toppled GM Peter Leko of Hungrary after 64 moves of Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence to share 2nd to 3rd places with world’s no.1 player GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who held into a draw with GM Sergei Tiviakov of the Netherlands after 22 moves of the Ruy Lopez Anderssen. Shirov and Carlsen both tallied 6.5 points each.
In Group C, GM Li Chao of China inched closer to the coveted title after defeating FM Benjamin Bok of the Netherlands after 65 moves of Sicilian Defense for his 7.5 points, 1.5 points ahead over GM Daniele Vocaturo of Italy, GM Ray Robson of the United States, IMs Robin Van Kampen and Robin Swinkels of the host country with 6 points each.
Corus Group B Standings after Round 10:
7 points - GM Anish Giri (Netherlands)
6.5 points - GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Erwin L'Ami (Netherlands), GM Ni Hua (China)
6 points---GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany)
5.5 points – GM Parimarjan Negi (India)
5 points---GM Pentala Harikrishna (India), GM David Howell (England)
4.5 points – GM Emil Sutovsky (Israel), WGM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine)
4 points - GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania)
3.5 points - GM Dimitri Reinderman (Netherlands)
3 points - GM Tomy Nyback (Finland)
2.5 points - GM Varuzhan Akobian (United States)
Top photo: Filipino GM Wesley So (R), handling the black pieces, won over Finland's GM Tomy Nyback (L) in the 10th round.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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