So scores shocker vs Chess Cup champ
abs-cbnNEWS.com 11/28/2009 12:32 AM
MANILA — Filipino chess prodigy Wesley So scored another shocking upset, this time against “chess heavyweight” and defending champion Gata Kamsky of the US, in the ongoing 2009 World Chess Cup at the Khanty-Mansiysk Festival of Arts in Russia.
The 16-year-old Pinoy grandmaster defeated Kamsky, a super GM with an ELO rating of 2695, in Game 1 of the Round 3 match up using the French defense.
So (ELO 2640) only needs to pull off a draw against Kamsky in Game 2 to advance to the next round of the biennial event.
Kamsky, a Soviet-born American chess player, reportedly offered So to split the point after 19 moves but the Filipino politely declined.
Kamsky is the defending champion, having won the 2007 World Chess Cup by defeating Spain’s Alexei Shirov in the 7th and final round. He is currently rated World’s No. 41 based on FIDE’s rankings.
So, rated No. 7 Junior player in the world, earlier toppled chess giant Vassily Ivanchuk after outplaying the Ukrainian GM, 1.5-05, in Round 3.
Ivanchuk, a super GM with an ELO rating of 2739, was upset with the loss to So that he has already considered retiring from the sport.
Manny Pacquiao of chess
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr. lauded So’s performance in the World Chess Cup.
“Anuman ang mangyari kay Wesley sa third round kontra kay Kamsky ay malaking karangalan na ang hatid niya sa bayan,” said Pichay.
Former Olympian national master (NM) Glenn Bordonada remarked: “As a friend commented, this is a historic day for Philippine chess. It recalls to mind Torre’s win over Mikhail Tal in Leningrad.”
International arbiter and national master Erwin Carag also praised So.
“Wesley So beating Vassily Ivanchuk is just like Manny Pacquiao beating Oscar de la Hoya, a legend.”
“Now, Wesley against Gata, will be like Pacquiao vs Hatton or Pacquiao vs Cotto? My feeling is Wesley can topple Kamsky,” commented Carag.
The winner of the 2009 World Chess Cup will qualify for the Candidates stage of the World Chess Championship in 2011.
So is one of the biggest names in the Philippine chess scene. He achieved his GM status at the age of 14, becoming the 7th youngest person in the world to receive such title. With a report from Chessgames.com
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com
It’s impossible not to symphatize with this young man.
All the best for the future!
You can do it Wesley! God bless you…
“this time against “chess heavyweight” and defending champion Gata Kamsky”
Defending champion of what?
The Philly journalists are raging again.
Anon 7:26,
You need to read more carefully. The answer to your question is in the article.
Wesley So is my greatest creation!
With his retirement, Ivanchuk should consider coaching Wesley So. If he failed to become World Champion himself, he can now train a future challenger. Wesley certainly has the talent, but has long needed an excellent coach.
And with the hype created by his animosity with Wesley (which he’ll get over with I’m sure), they’ll make a media-attractive team. Move over, Kasparov-Carlsen.
So Campo, where is Wesley’s allowance and return flight ticket??
What is the matter. Retirement funds getting low?
Anon 7:26 :
Q: Defending Champion of what?
A: Kamsky won the Chess World Cup 2007. This earned him a match against Veselin Topalov for the right to challenge for the World Chess Championship 2010, which he lost