FILIPINO GM WESLEY SO BAGS $100,000 FOR WINNING THE MILLIONAIRE CHESS OPEN IN LAS VEGAS
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Oct 2014
THAILAND -- Filipino Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So is the Millionaire Chess Open Champion.
He pocketed the $100,000 grand prize. He won it over fellow Webster University teammate American GM Ray Robson, 1.5-0.5, in the final match and clinched the championship tiara at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday (Monday night US Time). Robson, on the other hand went home with the runner-up purse of $50,000.
The $1,000,000 guaranteed prizes with a $100,000 grand prize was the biggest ever in the history of chess tournament.
On the road to the finals, So (2755), the tournament's top seed, edged GM Zhou Jianchao (2580) of China, 2-0, in the first tie break consisting of two games at 15 minutes per player. Earlier, So and Zhou drew both rapid games at 25 minutes per player to force into a tiebreaker.
Robson (2628) of the USA, mean time shocked GM Yu Yangyi (2697) of China, 1.5-0.5, in their rapid semifinal knockout match and got to the final first.
The 21-year-old Bacoor, Cavite native So now has a live rating of 2762, a personal best, after gaining 7.0 rating points from 5 wins and 2 draws in the Swiss system elimination round. He surpassed former world champion GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, who has a 2760 rating in a magnificent performance now puts him in the world's top 10 highest rated chess players.
Prior to the Millionaire Chess Open in Las Vegas, So settled second place behind GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine last June in the Edmonton International tournament in Alberta, Canada. He topped the prestigious Capablanca Memorial Tournament in Havana, Cuba last May and won the ACP Golden Classic last July in Bergamo, Italy.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 22 Apr 2025Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
Tue, 22 Apr 2025Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 21 Apr 20252025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
Mon, 21 Apr 2025Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025