Wesley So settles for draw with Vietnamese Super GM in Tagaytay Zonal chess
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 25 Jan 2013
Tagaytay City---Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So settled for a draw with second seed Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Elo 2631) in the fourth round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center on Thursday.
The Bacoor, Cavite native So agreed to a draw after 44 moves of a Neo-Gruenfeld defense using the black pieces to tally 3.5 points in 4 rounds in the company of Ngoc Truong Son.
"Mabuti naka draw pa tayo. Masyadong mahirap ang laro saka slight advantage si Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son," said the 19-year-old So, the country?s highest-ranked player and the tournament?s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, took a break from his studies at Webster University in the United States to compete in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr. and the city council.
Organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's chairman/president Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr., the 42 player's field in the Open division of the Nine Round Swiss format offers two slot for this year's World Cup in Tromso, Norway. GM Oliver Barbosa is the only Filipino currently guaranteed a seat in the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Filipino chess prodigy So is scheduled to handle the white pieces over to Mongolian GM-elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa in the fifth round, Friday's afternoon session while the Vietnamese ace goes up against another Filipino GM entry Darwin Laylo. Gundavaa split the point with Laylo after 30 moves of Gruenfeld defense.
"Go for win po tayo sa Mongolian na si Gundavaa lalu na't white pieces tayo,' added So, next tournament line-up is the tough Reykjavik Open chess nexth month.
Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ?Bambol? Tolentino Jr., said So is expected to past Gundavaa "Inaasahan natin mananalo si Wesley kay Gundavaa. Limang beses na silang nagkatapat at apat dun ay nagwagi si Wesley at isa dun ay naka draw yung Mongolian GM-elect."
Joining Gundavaa and Laylo in a bunch of 3.0 pointers were defending champion Indon GM Susanto Megaranto and Viet IM Nguyen Doc Hoa, who will face each other yesterday.
The Jakarta based Megaranto edged IM Rolando Nolte after 85 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening while Doc Hoa outclassed US based GM Rogelio 'Banjo' Barcenilla Jr. after 42 moves of King's Indian defense. NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales id the Tournament Director while Fide delegate Casto Abundo is the Chief Arbiter.-Marlon Bernardino-
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