So making a move at Aeroflot

Wesley So notches 2nd win in Aeroflot
abs-cbnNEWS.com 02/13/2010 5:31 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So redeemed himself from a 3rd-round setback by whipping Russian GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov in the 4th round Friday (in Manila) to remain in contention in the Aeroflot Open 2010 Chess Tournament in Moscow, Russia.

After a heart-breaking loss to Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son in the 3rd round, So (ELO 2656) wasted no time in beating lower-rated Rakhmanov (ELO 2591) by ending the match in 35 moves of a Sicilian skirmish using the white pieces.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. said So pinned the Russian’s Queen in the 27th move and took it on his 29th move.

“Maganda ang nilaro ni Wesley against the Russian GM player. Masyadong agressive ang style ng bata (So) at na queen-less si Rakhmanov sa 29th move matapos ma pin ng rook ni Wesley sa 27th move,” said Pichay.

The win, his second in 4 rounds, which includes a draw, enabled the 16-year-old So to move into a 25-player tie for 9th to 33rd places with 2.5 points. He is now a full point behind overnight co-leader Truongson and GM Le Quang Liem (2647) of Vietnam and half a point behind 6 other players.

“Mabuti po nakabawi agad ako, There are still five more rounds left, so I still have enough time to catch up,” said So, named “Chess Player of the Year” by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA).

So will play black against Armenian GM Hrant Melkumyam (ELO 2583) in the 5th round on Saturday.

So drew his first game against Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, won against Russian GM Dmitry Bocharov in the second, then lost to Truongson in the third.

Here is the full article.