So enters 2700 rank
By MST Sports
Posted on Mar. 01, 2013 at 12:01am
Wesley So became the first Philippine chess player to enter the 2700 ELO rank after tying for first in the Reykyavik Open with a three-move draw with a Ukrainian co-leader in Wednesday night’s 10th round.
He shared first with Pavel Eljanov of the Ukraine–whom he drew with in three moves–and Egyptian Bassem Amin with eight points. His rating of 2701 has been computed by several chess Internet sites since the Philippines is in arrears with FIDE, the International Chess Federation.
This was also reported by former world women’s champion Susan Polgar, So’s coach at Webster University, in So’s fan page which has kept Philippine chess fans abreast of his games for years.
Polgar said this feat was “a big monkey off his back after being stuck in 2650 for years.”
She said after this, additional goals would be set for the 19-year-old So.
This would include winning the College Final Four for Webster and playing well for the World Cup.
A source from the National Chess Federation of the Philippines told Manila Standard that it has a balance of 5,000 euros with FIDE.
“Hopefully in the next two weeks, we can meet that,” the official bared in a text message.
So forged a tie for first in Monday’s ninth round when he mated Marcin Dziuba on the 41st move. It was pulse-pounding game, where So gave up his queen for a rook and minor bishop to exert positional pressure using a passed pawn on the c-file.
Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com
Good luck Wesley!