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Source: Marlon Bernardino, ABS-CBN News

-- Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So scores his first win in the ongoing Aeroflot Open 2010 Chess Tournament in Moscow, Russia by turning back Russian GM Dmitry Bocharov in the second round.

The 16-year-old chess wizard from Bacoor, Cavite prevailed after 32 moves of the Sicilian defense while using the white pieces late Wednesday (Manila time).

According to his coach NM Roberto Suelo Jr., 1996 Philippine Junior champion, the 27 year-old Bocharov (ELO 2594) made a mistake when he took So’s f-pawn. The Russian resigned after So’s 32nd move.

“Nagkamali ‘yung Russian GM sa kalagitaan ng laro kaya nakalamang ng isang piyesa si Wesley nang mag-exchange sila ng mga piyesa,” said Suelo.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. said: “We hope he (GM Wesley So) can sustain his momentum and enable to surpass his 5.5 points in the last year’s edition.”

In last year’s edition, So won the top junior award with 5.5 points.

Another Filipino, GM Darwin Laylo absorbed his second defeat at the hands of Azerbaijan GM Eltaj Safarli while using the disadvantageous black pieces after 48 moves of another Sicilian skirmish.

With the win, So raised his total score to 1.5 points. He is now tied for 3rd to 32nd placers, trailing a half point to tournament leaders GM Bu Xiangzhi of China and GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam who both tallied perfect 2 points.

So drew his first game with the black pieces against GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran in 25 moves of a Queen’s gambit Tuesday while Laylo lost to Azerbaijan’s GM Rauf Mamedov in his first game after 26 moves of Modern defense using the white pieces.

The two Pinoy GMs, backed by the NCFP, are competing in the A1 group (for chess players with a FIDE rating higher than 2549). The winner of this prestigious tournament gets 21,000 euros.

In the Thursday’s third round, So will face 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games gold medallist GM Nuyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam using the black pieces. Laylo goes up against GM Markus Ragger of Austria also with the black pieces.

PSC monthly stipend

In other related news, So is expected to receive P20,000 a month in the monthly stipend from the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Harry Angping.

Under the PSC’s new policy, So will be categorized into those belonging to the “elite group” that includes former World Bowling Cup champion Biboy Rivera and tennis players Cecil Mamiit and Treat Huey.

The PSC chief said that So stands to receive from P1 million to P2 million in terms of allowance and international exposure.

So is a coming off a quarterfinal finish in last year’s World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia and a 5th place finish in Corus B chess in the Netherlands.