i TV Pinoy

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- Filipino chess prodigy Grandmaster Wesley So upset World No. 12 GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine in the first of their scheduled two-game match in World Chess Cup in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.

So (ELO 2460), currently the World’s No. 7 Junior chess player, beat Ivanchuk in another French Defence struggle while handling the black pieces during their match on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

The game proceeded into a previously played line but Ivanchuk deviated on move 13, sacrificing his d-pawn but setting some complications over the board, resulting to some material imbalance.

Ivanchuk deviated on move 13, sacrificing his d-pawn but setting some complications over the board, resulting to some material imbalance.

Ivanchuk refused a draw through a perpetual check in the 23rd move but soon lost as So consolidated his advantage to win enroute a 39-move victory.

The 16-year-old So is the lone survivor of the gruelling matches in Round 1 that saw the elimination of fellow GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo.

So, who scored a 4-1 win over GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan in the first round, will only need a draw in the next game to advance to the third round where he could face either defending champ GM Gata Kamsky (ELO 2695) of the US and GM Zhou Weiqi (ELO 2603) of China.

The Filipino GM is already guaranteed $10,000 purse for reaching the Round 2. This could increase to $16,000 if he reaches Round 3.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. lauded So's performance.

"Wesley made country proud. [It's] no joke if you beat one of the greatest top chess players in the world. We (NCFP) hope Wesley can hold the momentum," said Pichay.