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:
Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025