Wesley So scores third draw in 6th Altibox Norway Chess 2018

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Manila, Philippines---Filipino grandmaster Wesley So notched his third straight draw against American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in the third round of the 6th Altibox Norway Chess 2018 yesterday in Stavanger, Norway.

So tried to go for a win, but eventually decided to split the point with Nakamura after 47 moves of Queen's Gambit declined, Lasker defense using the white pieces.

So earlier drew his match against GM Sergey Karjakin of Russia after 58 moves of Catalan Opening in the first round and GM Levon Aronian of Armenia after 43 moves of another Catalan Opening in the second round.

So now have 1.5 points, the same output of Karjakin, Ding Liren of China, Nakamura, GM Viswanathan Anand of India, GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France.

Reigning three-peat World Champion GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway toppled Aronian after 31 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening to remain on top with 2.5 points in three outings.

The Filipino US based GM will face Anand in the fourth round.

"Players receive 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 50 minutes for 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting from move 61. No draw offers are allowed," according to the organizing committee.

In the traditional blitz opener of the 2018 edition of Altibox Norway Chess, So topped the said event with 6.0 points after nine games of play. -Marlon Bernardino-