MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- Wesley Barbasa So’s astounding run in the ongoing 72nd Corus International Chess Championship came to an end after the Filipino grandmaster lost his eleventh round match against Corus B Tournament leader Dutch GM Anish Giri on Friday night (Manila Time) that could potentially decide the winner of the tournament, being held at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.
The 16-year-old So played the King’s Pawn Game (e4), not his usual Queen’s Pawn Game (d4), and the 15-year-old Giri responded with the Petroff defense which ended into a 36 pushes.
Giri, who was born to a Nepalese father and Russian mother, launched an attack and sacrificed his knight then his bishop to open up lines towards So’s king. So defended well but seemed to have inaccuracies.
“Nais pasukin ni GM Wesley (So) ang Sicilian defense ni GM Anish (Giri) kaya nag desisyon siyang mag King’s Pawn Game kaysa sa Queen’s Pawn Game. Y’un nga lamang wise din si Anish, nag Petroff defense. Mahirap kasi pag pumasok ka sa preparation. Pero maganda ang attitude ni Wesley na go for a win. Hope manalo siya sa last two round,” said 1996 Philippine Junior champion NM Roberto Suelo Jr., first trainer/coach of So.
This was So’s first loss in the tournament after three wins and seven draws and was stuck at 6.5 points, the same output of top seed German Arkadij Naiditsch who held into a draw against England GM David Howell after 61 moves of Ruy Lopez Exchange.
Going to the last two round, Giri is still on top with 8 points, full point ahead against compatriot GM Erwin L'Ami and Chinese GM Ni Hua. L’Ami halved the point with Ukrainian WGM/IM Anna Muzychuk (who dealt Giri his only loss so far last Tuesday) after 53 moves of French exchange while Ni split the point against Indian GM Pentala Harikrishna after 59 moves of Slav defense.
Wesley's Netherlands trip is backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/Chairman Prospero Pichay, Jr. and Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/President Hector Tagaysay.
Long-time manager/businessman Reginald Tee, served as second/ trainer of Wesley in Holland chess meet.
Wesley’s 12th round match on Saturday will be against Howell using the black pieces and his 13th and final round match on Sunday against Muzychuk using the white pieces.
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