GM Iturrizaga (2528) – GM So (2627) [E15]
Corus C (5), 22.01.2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 exd5 7.cxd5 Bb7 8.Bg2 Nxd5 9.0–0 Be7 10.Rd1 Qc8 11.a3 Nf6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc3 0–0 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Rxd5 Nc6 17.Rad1 Rd8 18.Nd2 Ne7 19.Rd6 Rb8 20.Rxf6 gxf6 21.Ne4 d5 22.Nxf6+ Kg7 23.Nxd5 Qe6 24.Qc3+ f6 25.e4 Qe5 26.Qxe5 fxe5 27.Re1 Nxd5 28.exd5 Kf6 29.Kf1 b5 30.Re3 b4 31.a4 c4 32.Ke2 c3 33.b3 c2 34.Kd2 Rbc8 35.Kc1 Rc5 36.Be4 Rdc8 37.Re2 Rc3 38.Rxc2 Ke7 39.Kd2 Rxc2+ 40.Bxc2 Rc3 41.h4 Kd6 42.g4 Rh3 43.Be4 Rxh4 44.f3 Rh1 45.Kc2 Kc5 46.Kd2 Rh2+ 47.Kc1 Kd4 48.d6 Kc3 Black wins 0–1
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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Well, to me it seems that Iturrizaga lost that game rather than So won it. For example, 19.Nc4 would have been very strong, as pointed out on http://www.chessdom.com. However, nice defensive effort by So.
Beelze
So far, so good. But it’s a pity So wasn’t included in Group B. So vs Caruana would have been a great match-up.
Wesley So’s rating was not yet at what he has right now when the invitation was given, hence, he is in this current group.
Yes, I agree that he would have been a force to reckon with in group B if he is in that group.
This kid is just a phenomenal player. Susan should recruit him to Texas Tech Chess Team to beef-up her TT collegiate team. Especially if she can add another GM or IM along with IM Antal.
I believe So is now a Senior or at the very least a Junior High in the Philippines.
Go Campo!
Wesley is a high school junior. Because of his tournament commitments, he has to keep up with his regular school work at home…kinda like home schooling. I only hope that the academic quality of his work will qualify hiim for a spot at Texas Tech if that’s the path he will choose.
I know he wants to go to college.
Oh…and another thing…primary and secondary education in the Philippines is only 10 years (it’s 12 years in the US). Wesley will be 16 when he goes to college. Problem is, will his ten years of pre college education be enough for him to cut it academically at Texas Tech?
Agree that Wesley belongs to Group B, but that remains to be seen how he does in Group C.
Except that he might lose ELO points if he keeps drawing his games against lower rated players.
I won’t be surprised if University of Maryland will try hard to recruit Wesley, as they did for Paolo Del Mundo.
It’s not fair to compare UMBC to Texas Tech. UMBC is a tiny school compare to the large academic university like Texas Tech. It’s apples and oranges.
“Oh…and another thing…primary and secondary education in the Philippines is only 10 years (it’s 12 years in the US). Wesley will be 16. . .”
Well, as long as he passed the necessary prerequisites to enter college in the US just like any other foreign students I do not see any reason why he cannot enter any US colleges.
You will be surprise how much high school education in the Philippines is as par with US high school education. It is not how long you go to school, it is more how much knowledge you gain. . . I guess.