Philippines, 05 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


WESLEY SO SHARES TOP HONORS IN REYKJAVIK CHESS MEET; JOINS ELITE HYDRA GRANDMASTER'S GROUP


PhilBoxing.com




Manila -- WORLD CUP bound GM Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) made the country proud anew when he finished in a tie for first to third places in the just concluded 28th Reykjavik Open chess championship Wednesday night at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The 19-year-old Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid made a quick draw against GM Pavel Eljanov (ELO 2678) of Ukraine using the disadvantageous black pieces in just three (3) moves of Gruenfeld defense according to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. who watch the game thru live internet to finish unbeaten record with 8.0 points on six wins, four draws in the prestigious ten (10) round Swiss-system event which attracted 227 players.

Eljanov said to the official website that he was planning to ?play a little?, but when his opponent (GM Wesley Barbasa So) offered the draw, he saw no reason to decline.

"Tinangap ni GM (Pavel) Eljanov ang draw offer Ni GM (Wesley) So para mag tie for first sila kasama yung Egyptian Grandmaster (Bassem Amin) na nanalo naman sa last round," added Pichay, who is also a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board of trustees under the leadership of Jose' Peping" Cojuangco Jr.

GM Bassem Amin of Egypt toppled GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland after 52 moves of Sicilian defense to match the eight points marker of So and Eljanov.

The Filipino champion who notch a Rating Performance of 2753, however, finished only second in the Buchholz tiebreak that was topped by Eljanov while Amin wound up in third place. But most important, the Webster University freshman student joined the elite Hydra Grandmaster group, affixed name to those player who reached 2700 elo mark.

"This is the first time na may Filipinong nakaabot ng 2700 Elo rating points sa katauhan ni Wesley na may live rating 2701," explained Pichay.

Eljanov, So and Amin shared 8,250 Euros according to the Hort system (Eljanov had the best Bucholz and therefore received slightly more prize money).

Rounding up to the top eleven (11) place with 7.5 points each were No.4 GM Anish Giri of the The Netherlands, No.5 GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, No.6 IM Wei Yi of China, No.7 GM Marcin Dziuba of Poland, No.8 GM Ding Liren of China, No.9 NM Yaacov Norowitz of the USA, No.10 GM Gawain Jones of England and No.11 GM Ivan Sokolov of the Netherlands.

IM Wei Yi of China, 14, formally secured his 3rd & final GM norm scoring 7.0/9 and a Rating performance (Rp) of 2661.

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:

  • Catterall vs Eubank: Jack’s Experience Gap Too Wide?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane Advances to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM MANCHESTER: CATTERALL - 146.5 LBS., EUBANK - 146.5 LBS.
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Vincent Astrolabio in LA training alongside Manny Pacquiao
    By Ace Freeman, , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Jason Sanchez Upsets Previously Undefeated Julian Gonzalez in Philly
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Meatball Launches Boxing Career With Matchroom
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • The Queens of Philippine Boxing are Training in Cebu
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Raising the Game: Jean Henri Lhuillier’s Unmatched Impact on Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • GM Eugene Torre to grace the Asenso Ozamis Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • 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




  •  



     
    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.