MANILA -- Grandmaster Wesley So completed his conquest of GM Ding Liren of China, 2.5-1.5, to advance to the second round of the 2011 World Chess Cup at the newly-built Ugra Cultural Center in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, late Tuesday.
Wesley (ELO 2658), one of the most popular young players here, battled Ding Liren (ELO 2654) to a fighting draw in the second of their two-game encounter in the rapid play off to clinch victory in their knockout encounter.
According to Wesley's long-time manager sportsman Reginad Tee who watch the game live thru internet, the pride of Bacoor, Cavite actually had a slight advantage but opted not to take a risk and accepted the draw after 40 moves of Bogo-Indian defense using the disadvantageous black pieces.
The draw was all the 17-year-old Filipino champion needed to eliminate Liren, reigning two-time China national open champion. His feat set up an encounter against top seed GM Sergey Karjakin of Russia (ELO 2788), who ousted IM Mejdi Kaabi of Tunisia (ELO 2344) during their standard competition match-up.
Wesley beat Liren in the first game of their rapid play off after 46 moves of King's Indian defense, Saemish variation employing the advantageous whites pieces.
Wesley and Liren, earlier split the point in their two game standard play late Monday.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/ President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., elated Wesley's opening triumph and he said "It's a good start, hope mahawakan ni GM Wesley (So) ang momentum. Mabigat talaga si GM Sergey (Karjakin) pero kumpiyansa ako na bibigyan siya ng magandang laban ni Wesley,"
In the last edition, Wesley ousted former world championship candidates GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, 1.5-.5 in the second round and GM Gata Kamsky, 1.5-.5, of the United States in the third round.
So?s Cinderella run , however, ended at the hands of GM Vladimir Malakhov of Russia, 4-1, in rapid tiebreak matches in their fourth- round showdown.
Meanwhile, another Filipino entry GM Mark Paragua (ELO 2545) already ousted in the 128-player, knockout-style competition organized by FIDE (World Chess Federation) late Monday.
The pride of Marilao, Bulacan bowed to GM Michael Adams (ELO 2715) of England, 0.5-1.5, in their two game standard play match-up which offers a guaranteed cash prize of US $1.6 million.
The Filipino woodpushers Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia chess campaign is backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., and Secretary-General Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) thru it's chairman Ricardo Garcia, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) under Jose "Peping" Cojuangco amd Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/President Hector "Chito" Tagaysay.
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