Philippines, 03 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Wesley So wins Bilbao Chess Masters?2015


PhilBoxing.com




The ?Bilbao Chess 2015?also popularly called the?8th?Grand Slam Masters Final?took place in Bilbao on 25 October to 1 November 2015. ?Since its 1st?edition (2008), it is considered one of the?world?s strongest annual chess tournament.?The previous winners have been?Magnus Carlsen?(2011 & 2012),?Levon Aronian?(2009 & 2013),?Veselin Topalov?(2008),?Vladimir Kramnik?(2010) and?Viswanathan Anand?(2014).

The Participants



This year event, 8th?edition, ?is a 4-player double round-robin tournament with the participation of?the defending champion & 5-time world champion?Viswanathan Anand (India?s#1 & World?s #4),?Anish Giri?(Netherlands? #1 and World?s #5),?Ding Liren(China?s #1 & World?s #8) ? and?Wesley So?(USA?s #3 & World?s #12).

Starting Rank/Seeding:?



This strong-tournament had an?average rating of 2785.75, a?category 22?(2776-2800).

The Winners


L-R: ?Ding, Liren(4th place), ?So, Wesley(1st place), Anand, Viswanathan(3rd place) & Giri, Anish (2nd place)

Philippine-born GM Wesley So?representing USCF,? a first?timer in Bilbao, ?defeated the 2nd seed?Anish Giri in a two game tiebreaker blitz match 4-1 after both tied ?8 points in the 6-round standard/classical chess with 1 win and 5 draws apiece. ?The tournament regulations used the?Sofia Chess Rules?and the football scoring system of 3-1-0.



V. Anand and Ding, Liren had drawn in the last round in their own battle for 3rd place with both scoring 5 points but Anand with a higher tiebreak points took 3rd place with Ding, Liren settling for 4th place overall.

Round 1 to Round 6 Results



Wesley So?won?Bilbao Chess 2015



Wesley So after his brilliant win in R1?against Ding, Liren?s pet King Indian Defense (KID), where a number of experts described the win as?one of the most spectacular?games of the year,??protected that slim lead until Anish Giri catched up in R4 by scoring his 1st ever win against V. Anand in standard/classical chess. ?Where all other matches ended in fighting draws except these two wins in R1 by ?Wesley So and in R4 by?Anish Giri, ?the two players tied at 8 points a piece after R6 and had no other recourse but to move on to 2-tiebreaker blitz matches as required by the tournament?s regulations. ?Wesley won the 1st tiebreaker game and settled for a draw in the 2nd game?and the title, his first ever category 22 ?title in his young career at age 22. ?Wesley just turned 22 last October 9.



With the win Wesley So now joined the ranks of former?Bilbao Chess Masters/Grand Slam Masters Final?champions?that includes the current World Champion(WC) Magnus Carlsen, former WC?Vladimir Kramnik?and?Viswanathan Anand, former FIDE?WC?Veselin Topalov and?former world nr2 rated player?Levon Aronian.





Note: ?Starting R5 Live rating was adjusted with Wesley So November 2015 rating of 2767 as reference. ? see??Wesley So Live?Ratings.



Wesley had gained +7.8 rating points to bring his?Live Rating @ 2774.8 or 2775?come December 2015 ?FIDE rating that currently ranks #10 in the?Live Rating list.? His Tournament Performance Rating (TPR) was?2851.

Next stop for GM Wesley So

2015 Qatar Masters Open
December 19???December 29
Doha, Qatar

2016?Tata Steel Chess
January 15, 2016???January 31, 2016
Wijk aan Zee ? Netherlands


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jose "joeyj" Jereos Jr..


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • No issues with fight ref
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Borromeo Leads Winners of the Philippine Speedcubing Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • What If Pacquiao Defeats Barrios?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.