So advances to 2nd round of World Chess Cup
11/24/2009 11:11 AM
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia – GM Wesley So of the Philippines achieved another milestone when he reached the second round of the 2009 World Chess Cup at the Khanty-Mansiysk Festival of Arts here.
So, at 15 already one of the world’s most-recognizable young players, eliminated GM Gadir Guseino of Azerbaijan, 3-1, and moved forward to the tough, 64-player second round of this six-part competition being held in this Scandinavian resort-like town in Western Siberia.
The multi-awarded campaigner from Bacoor, Cavite, who rose to prominence by becoming the world’s seventh youngest player to earn a GM title, swept all three rapid tiebreak matches against Guseinov to become the only Filipino player to advance to the next round.
The 59th-seeded So, who was forced into the rapid tiebreak stage after losing the second game to Guseinov, left nothing to chance and blanked his Azerbaijan rival in the tiebreak stage.
Another Filipino campaigner, GM Darwin Laylo, saw his determined campaign come to an end.
Laylo, the reigning Asian Zone 3.3 champion, lost to No. 21 GM David Navara of Czech Republic, 1-2, and joined compatriot GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. as one of 64 first-round casualties.
The pride of Lipa City, Batangas, who made his second straight appearance in the world’s biggest chess competition, split the first two against the higher-rated Navara (ELO 2707) to send the match into the tiebreak stage.
Here is the full article.
Wesley needs a real coach.
Chucky needs a drink.
Where is Torre? He has never helped the young chess talents of the Phil.
Chucky will be a basket case once he gets wiped out 2-0 by Wesley.