i TV Pinoy

Source: Marlon Bernardino, ABS-CBN News

Corus Group B Standings after Round 8:

6.5 points --- GM Anish Giri (Netherlands)
5 points --- GM Erwin L'Ami (Netherlands), GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Ni Hua (China)
4.5 points --- GM David Howell (England), GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany), GM Pentala Harikrishna (India)
4 points --- GM Parimarjan Negi (India)
3.5 points --- GM Emil Sutovsky (Israel)
3 points --- GM Tomi Nyback (Finland), WGM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania)
2.5 points --- GM Dimitri Reinderman (Netherlands)
2 points --- GM Varuzhan Akobian (USA)

-- Filipino teen Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So made a quick draw over Chinese GM Ni Hua after 17 moves of Sicilian Rossolimo using the disadvantageous black pieces at the 72nd Corus International Chess Championship on Sunday.

So’s victory created a three-way tie for second placers after the 8th round at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, the Netherlands.

The 16-year-old GM is now tied in 2nd place with Ni and GM Erwin L'Ami with 5 points each. They are 1.5 points behind standings leader Dutch GM Anish Giri who got 6.5 points in eight outings.

“Nag offer ng draw si Ni Hua kay Wesley So sa 17th move, tinanggap naman ni So ang draw. Okay na din para maireserba niya ang kaniyang lakas sa nalalabing limang round. Saka whites pieces siya sa 9th round kay Emil Sutovsky,” said 1996 Philippine Junior champion National Master (NM) Roberto Suelo, Jr., the first coach of So.

So, who hails from Bacoor, Cavite, will face Israeli GM Sutovsky on Monday.

The Filipino teenager’s Corus B stint is being supported by Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/President Hector “Chito” Tagaysay and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr.