Philippines, 07 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Filipino GM Wesley So makes history by breaking 2700 Elo barrier in 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships; Guns for title against Pavel Eljanov in final round


PhilBoxing.com



So, Eljanov.
Individual standings after Round 9:
7.5 points---GM Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), GM Wesley Barbasa So (Philippines)
7.0 points---GM Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland), GM Anish Giri (The Netherlands), GM Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), IM Wei Yi (China), GM Gawain Jones (England), GM Bassem Amin (Egypt)

Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) defeated GM Marcin Dziuba (ELO 2602) of Poland to keep a share of the lead with GM Pavel Eljanov (ELO 2678) of Ukraine who brought downed GM Ding Liren (ELO 2709) of China after the ninth and penultimate round of 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Reykjavik, Iceland on Wednesday.

The Filipino champion went for a queen sacrifice in exchange of a rook and bishop. The position was very sharp and So claimed a winning advantage with an exchange sacrifice. A very nice final sequence finished in a checkmate on move 41 of their Caro-kann defense encounter using the white pieces.

According to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., after the win over Polish GM Dziuba, So made history as he breaks 2700 Elo barrier.

"Wesley's current live rating is 2701.4 after the win over Polish GM (Marcin) Dziuba," said Pichay, who watched the game live through internet.

So's Rating Performance going to the 10th and final round is 2768.

"We hope manalo si Wesley kay GM Pavel Eljanov sa last round para makuha nya ang first major title sa taong ito," added Pichay, who is also a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board of trustees under the leadership of Jose' Peping" Cojuangco Jr.

Eljanov, meantime played with black against Ding. The game was highly tense from the beginning because both players decided to expand their pawns on the flanks, leaving their kings uncastled. The Ukrainian was the first one to break in the center with a knight sacrifice for two pawns. The Chinese needed to play precisely to avoid losing immediately, but was not able to do so. He resigned on move 22 when black is about to create a super strong passed pawn on the queenside.

"Brilliant din y'ung pagkapanalo ni Eljanov kay Ding Liren," last word of Pichay.

Eljanov will have the white pieces on Thursday against So for the coveted title. Eljanov and So, both tallied 7.5 points in the ten (10) Swiss-System event which offers a prize fund of 15,000 euro with the winner taking 5,000 euro and the runner-up getting 2,000 euro.

Bunch of 7.0 pointers are GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland, GM Anish Giri of The Netherlands, GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, IM Wei Yi of China, GM Gawain Jones of England and GM Bassem Amin of Egypt.

Gajewski split the point with Wei after 33 moves of Neo-Gruenfeld defense, Giri toppled countryman GM Erwin L'ami after 40 moves of Slav defense, Cheparinov routed GM Mustafa Yilmaz of Turkey after 41 moves of another Slav skirmish, Jones subdued GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden after 51 moves of English Opening and Amin shocked GM David Navara of Czech Republic after 38 moves of Bogo-Indian defense.

So?s campaign is backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.

The tournament serves as So?s build up for the 2013 World Chess Cup scheduled on August 10 to September 5 in Tromso, Norway. Joining So in the World Chess Cup is fellow GM Oliver Barbosa. -Marlon Bernardino-


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • McCormack Stops Parra in 9
    , Sun, 07 Sep 2025
  • Monika Singh Makes History as India's Newest Youth World Champion
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 07 Sep 2025
  • Who is Nico Walsh?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 07 Sep 2025
  • Kelvin Watts Highlights Day Two of World Boxing Championships for Team USA
    , Sun, 07 Sep 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LOS MOCHIS: Eduardo Nuñez - 130 Lbs., Christopher Diaz - 129.6 Lbs.
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • “THE HOMECOMING” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • ‘SUGAR’ NUNEZ VS. ‘PITUFO’ DIAZ – PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • SUNDERLAND: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • USA Boxing Nabs Perfect Outing on Day One of 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • Kelvin Watts Charged Up for 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • Legendary German Trainer Michael Timm Dies
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • 2X Olympic Champion, 4X Undisputed & 17X World Champion Claressa Shields Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo,
    , Sat, 06 Sep 2025
  • Boxers swing into action
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • UBO Youth World Title Showdown: Aliya Soomro Fights Monika Singh in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Battle of the Hawk Season 1 Finals on September 9; offers P600,000 to the winning team while P300,000 to the losing finalist team
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 05 Sep 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.