TATA STEEL CHESS: SO DRAWS WITH NAKAMURA IN 2ND ROUND
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Jan 2014
MANILA, Philippines -- FILIPINO Grandmaster Wesley So (ELO 2719) found American GM Hikaru Nakamura (2789) tough to crack and settled for a draw in the second round of the super-tough Category A of the 76th Tata Steel Tournament Masters in Wijk Aan Zee, the Netherlands on Sunday (Monday morning in Manila time).
So, the 20-year-old finance business sophomore at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, the top player of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Cavite Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., and Nakamura agreed to halve to the point after 27 moves of Semi-Slav Defense using the white pieces to raise his total to 1.5 points and create a five-way tie for first.
So had five pawns, queen, two bishops and a knight while Nakamura had five pawns, queen, two knights and a bishop.
"Wesley and Hikaru played for the first time and it finished in a draw," said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. who watched the games live through ChessBomb website.
Bunched at 1.5 points with So are Nakamura, top seed GM Levon Aronian of Armenia (2803), GM Sergey Karjakin of Russia (2756) and GM Anish Giri of the Netherlands(2737).
Aronian defeated GM Fabiano Caruana of Italy (2782) after 58 moves of English Symmetrical, Karjakin drew with GM Pentala Harikrishna of India (2708) after 40 moves of Queen's Gambit Declined and Giri outclassed GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany (2737) after 33 moves of Bogo Indian Defense.
In other matches, GM Richard Rapport (ELO 2691) of Hungrary, who lost to So in the first round on Saturday, bounced back in contention after crushing GM Boris Gelfand (2777) of Israel after 60 moves of Budapest Defense Main Line while GM Leinier Dominguez of Cuba (2754) split the point with GM Loek Van Wely of the Netherlands (2678) after 26 moves of Sicilian Early Fianchetto skirmish.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
T-Wolves Mangle Denver 115-70, Force Game Seven in West Semis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 17 May 2024Press Conference Notes: Emanuel Navarrete Motivated to Claim Four-Division World Title Glory in San Diego
Fri, 17 May 2024DON KING PROMOTIONS: “FISTS OF FURY” PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 17 May 2024Kevin Brown vs Idalberto Umara Headlines Boxlab Promotions Card in Orlando, FL, May 31
Fri, 17 May 2024Press Conference: Fury & Usyk Set Serious Tone Two Days From Undisputed Showdown
Fri, 17 May 2024Zanfer Wins Purse Bid for Apolinario-Ayala IBF Fight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 17 May 2024Noynay loses to Sasaki by TKO in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 17 May 2024Boston Returns to East Finals; Dallas A Win Away for the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 16 May 2024Arca Continues to Pursue Coveted IM Norm in Vietnam Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 May 2024Martin joins Pinoy invasion
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 16 May 2024Media Workout: Fury & Usyk T-3 Days From Making Heavyweight History
Thu, 16 May 2024ESPN and Top Rank Present DAZN on ESPN+ PPV Event: Undisputed Heavyweight Title Showdown Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
Thu, 16 May 2024FIERRO AND RIVERA LAND TITLE FIGHTS IN PUERTO RICO
Thu, 16 May 2024Tayden Beltran vs Cesar Villarraga Headlines CBN Promotions June 22 Show
Thu, 16 May 2024Puerto Rican National Champion Carlos De León Castro Signs with Boxlab Promotions
Thu, 16 May 2024