Philippine Chess

[Pinoychess]

Wesley So (October 9, 1993 - ) is a Filipino chess International Master who becomes the youngest member of the national men’s team to the Chess Olympiad(2006 - Turin, Italy) at the age of 12. He also holds the record of being the youngest National Open Chess Champion, in the last December 2006 tournament. He also became the youngest National Junior Open Chess Champion last May 2007. As of October 2007, his elo rating is 2531 making him ranked 3rd in the Philippines ahead of other notable Filipino Grandmasters like Mark Paragua, Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano and GM-elect Darwin Laylo. Wesley So won the World Under 16 Team Championship Board 1 gold medal with a score of 9.5 out of 10.


Strongest Chess Player in the World (Age-group)
On October 1, 2007 FIDE ELO rating list, he was considered as the strongest chess player in the world in his age group (players born in 1993, 1994 and so on) with an ELO rating of 2531 edging the phenomenal woman GM Yifan Hou of China (born 1994, ELO 2502) and Indian GM Parimarjan Neqi (born 1993, ELO 2514)"





Quest for Grandmaster Title
Wesley So, who got his second Grandmaster norm in the 2007 World Junior Chess Championship in Armenia, just needed one more norm to be accorded the title of Grandmaster.

He got his first GM norm in the Offene Internationale Bayerische Schaha Meisterschaft, Bad Wiessee, Germany.





Future Tournaments
Wesley So will probably see action in the following international tournament before year 2007 ends;

1.) Asian Indoor Championship - Chess competition (Macau, China)

2.) Pichay Cup (Philippines)or the Asian Junior Chess Championship (India)

3.) GMA Cup (Philippines)

4.) Singapore Open (Singapore)


Achievements
2007 Jun 18-20 - Shell Battle of Champions, 15th Anniversary. Megamall, Ortigas. Champion
2007 May 06-09 - National Juniors Open Chess Championship. Marketplace, Kalentong. Champion
2006 Dec 25-31 - 3rd Singapore Masters International Open, Singapore
Tied for 4th place. Rank 14 (99 players)

2006 Dec - National Open Chess Championship. SM Manila. Champion
2006 Nov 17-23 1st President GMA Cup International Chess Tournament, Paranaque, Manila
Award: Top Juniors, 3rd. Tied for 6th place.

2006 Nov 04-12 Offene Internationale Bayerische Schaha Meisterschaft, Bad Wiessee, Germany
Award: Tied for 2nd place. Earned first GM norm. Creativity Award: chosen by Russian website e3e5.

2006 Oct 20-28 III Festival de Ajedrez Open Internacionale, Calvia Spain
Award: Best Under-16, Blitz.

2006 Oct 08 Title awarded by FIDE: International Master
2006 Aug 20-28 3rd IGB Dato Arthur Tan Malaysia Open Chess Championship, Kuala Lumpur
Award: Best Under 16 player. Earned 3rd IM norm.

2006 Jun 05-11 2nd San Marino Open Internationale de Scacchi, San Marino Republic
Award: Best Under 16 player. Earned 2nd IM norm.

2006 May20-Jun04 37th World Chess Olympiad, Torino, Italy.
Youngest RP Olympian.

2006 Apr22-May02 8th Dubai Open Chess Championship, Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamadan Ak Maktoum Cup, Dubai, UAE
Earned 1st IM norm.

2005 Dec 26-30 Masters/Challengers Intl Open, Singapore.
Finished 32nd individual. Award: Best Under 12 player.

2005 Aug 01-06 Nice Open International, Nice: Finished 9th
2005 Jul 18-29 World Youth Chess Championship, Belfort, France. Equal first.
2005 June 14-20 7th Asean Age-Group Chess Championship, Pattaya, Thailand
Individual Awards: Gold Medallist, Standard Chess; Gold Medallist, Rapid Chess; Gold Medallist, Blitz Chess.

2004 Dec 01-08 World Youth Chess Championship, Crete.
Finished: 13th.

2004 Sep 02-12 6th Asean Age-Group Chess Championship, Vung Tau, Vietnam
Individual Awards: Gold Medallist, Standard Chess; Gold Medallist, Rapid Chess. Team Awards: Silver Medallist, Standard Chess, Silver Medallist Rapid Chess.

2003 Nov 03-10 World Youth Chess Championship, Heraklio, Greece.
Finished: 19th.

[Pinoychess]

2007-10-26 20:30:08
CHESS PIECE: WESLEY SO, PROMIL KID
Bobby Ang

13-year old Wesley So earned a 9-round GM norm from the World Junior Championship in Yerevan, Armenia. This is his second norm, and just one more will earn for him the full International Grandmaster title.

In 1958, several years before I was born, Bobby Fischer took part in the Portoroz Interzonal and by virtue of his qualifying for the Candidates' Tournament got himself proclaimed an International Grandmaster, the youngest one of all time at the age of just 15 and a half years old. This record stood for more than 30 years before Judit Polgar broke it in 1991. She was GM'ed one month younger than Fischer. Over the next ten years the record was broken several times and here is the current state of that record:


The Ten Youngest GM in Chess History

1 Sergey Karjakin UKR, 12 yrs 7 mos 0 day

2 Magnus Carlsen NOR, 13 yrs 3 mos 27 days

3 Bu Xiangzhi CHN, 13 yrs 10 mos 13 days

4 Teimour Radjabov AZE, 14 yrs 0 mos 14 days

5 Ruslan Ponomariov UKR, 14 yrs 0 mos 17 days

6 Etienne Bacrot FRA 14 yrs 2 mos 0 days

7 Maxime Vachier Lagrave FRA 14 yrs 4 mos 0 days

8 Peter Leko HUN 14 yrs 4 mos 22 days

9 Yurij Kuzubov UKR 14 yrs 7 mos 12 days

10 Nguyen Ngoc Truongson VIE 14 yrs 10 mos 0 days


Wesley was born in December 1993, which makes him currently 13 yrs and 10 mos old. He still has a chance to enter the top 5 list.


Wesley So, a first year high school student at St. Francis of Assisi in Bacoor, Cavite, is the second of two children of William and Leny, both certified public accountants. Leny is the controller of the De La Salle University Health Sciences campus in Dasmariñas. William taught him to play chess when he was 6 years old. Wesley turned out to be an outstanding talent, and a few years later was included in Promil's Pro-Gifted Formula 2 TV Commercial.


It appears that the Formula really works, for immediately this "Promil Kid" zoomed up the chess standings and, in 2006, at the age of 12, performed a quantum leap to become the youngest Filipino ever to make the national Olympiad squad.


The successes have not stopped and now he is within striking distance of grandmastership, and the history books.


Let us look at two of his games from Yerevan.


Wesley's opponent in the following game, David Wei Ling Howell (born November 14, 1990 is the youngest Grandmaster from England, a title he earned when he came second during the 35th Rilton Cup in Stockholm on 5 January 2007 when he was 16; the previous record holder, Luke McShane was six months older when he became grandmaster.


So,Wesley (2531) - Howell,David (2527) [C47]

WJun Yerevan (5), 07.10.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.0–0 0–0 10.Bg5 c6 11.Qf3 Be7 12.Rfe1

White's prospects are tied in with his ability to swing his rook to support an attack on the kingside. That is why Black immediately opposes the rook. A sample of what can happen if Black is careless: 12.Rae1 Be6 13.Qg3 Rb8 14.b3 Bb4 15.Re3! Bxc3? (15...d4 loses to 16.Qh4) 16.Bxh7+!! Kxh7 17.Qh4+ Kg8 18.Rxc3! Simutowe,A (2421)-Ippolito,D (2395)/ Parsippany 2007 1–0 (55).

12...Re8 13.h3 h6 14.Bf4

The usual move is now 14...Bd6, but Howell gets an idea to bring his knight to g5.

14...Nh7?!


caption: position after 14...Nh7

Immediately the combination 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Qg6 Bd7 19.Qxh6+ Kg8 20.Qg6+ Kf8 21.Re3 flashes before the Promil Kid's eyes. White has three passed pawns on the kingside for the sacrificed piece, and Black's king is still exposed to mating threats. This is a no-brainer and he doesn't need a second invitation.

15.Bxh6! Ng5 16.Bxg5 Bxg5 17.Rxe8+ Qxe8 18.Nxd5!

To his chagrin Howell notices that 18...cxd5 19.Qxd5 introduces a double attack on a8 and g5.

18...Bd8 19.Ne3 Rb8 20.b3 Qe5 21.Rd1 Bc7 22.Bc4 Be6 23.Bxe6 Qxe6 24.Qf5 Qe8 25.Rd4 g6 26.Qe4 Qf8 27.Qxc6 Bb6 28.Rd3 Rc8 29.Qf3 Bxe3 30.Qxe3 Rxc2 31.Qxa7 Qe8 32.Qe3 Qc8 33.Qe7 Qf5 34.Rd8+ Kg7 35.Qf8+ Kf6 36.Qd6+ Kg5 37.h4+! 1-0

The following sequence is forced 37...Kh6 38.Qf8+ Kh5 39.Qh8+ Kg4 40.Rd4+


So,Wesley (2531) - Mamikonian,Tigran (2257) [C28]

WJun Yerevan (3), 05.10.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3

Wesley So's pet opening line-up. The Australian GM and famous chess journalist Ian Rogers also counts this up as among his favored weapons.

3...Nc6 4.Nc3 Na5 5.Qf3

The usual treatment here is 5.Nge2 followed by castling kingside and try get something going in agains the enemy king. Please compare this note against the one on move 8.

5...Nxc4 6.dxc4 d6 7.h3 Be7 8.Nge2

Wesley has gained a move since the queen is now on f3. Usually after the main line 5.Nge2 given above the White queen goes to f3 through d3.

8...0–0 9.0–0 c6 10.Rd1 Be6 11.b3 Qc7 12.a4 Rad8 13.Ng3 Kh8 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.Qxf5 g6 16.Qf3 Ng8

Obviously intending to advance ...f7-f5.

17.Qe3

Attacking the a7-pawn.

17...a6 18.Bb2

Very tricky. To 18...f5 Wesley will reply 19.c5! dxc5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Nd5!, which is why Black retreats his queen out of range of the knight jump.

18...Qc8 19.Ne2 Qe6

The move 19...f5 still cannot be played. There will follow 20.exf5 gxf5 21.f4 White is going to win a pawn.

20.Nf4! Qc8 21.Nd3 f6 22.f4 Rfe8 23.Rf1 Bf8 24.Qg3 Bg7 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Rf3 c5 27.a5 Qc6 28.Re1 Qc7 29.Bc3 Ne7 30.Qf2

Two threats, and only one can be defended. Threat one: 31.Rxf6 Bxf6 32.Qxf6+ Kg8 33.Qe6+ followed by Bxe5+. Threat two: Qxc5.

30...Nc6 31.Qxc5 Qd7 32.Qf2 Qe7 33.h4 h5 34.Rf1 Kh7 35.Kh1 Nd4 36.Bxd4 Rxd4 37.Nf4! Rxe4

[37...exf4 38.Qxd4 Qxe4 39.Qxe4 Rxe4 40.Rxf4 leads to a winning endgame]

38.Nd5 Qd7 39.Nxf6+ Bxf6 40.Rxf6 Re7 41.Rf7+ Kh6 42.Rf8 Kh7

Time to bring down the curtain.

43.Qf7+! Rxf7 44.R1xf7+ Qxf7 45.Rxf7+ Kh6 46.Rxb7 Rxh4+ 47.Kg1 Rd4 48.c5 Rd5 49.b4 Kg5 50.c6 Rd4 51.c7 Rc4 52.b5 1–0


Hmmm .... I wonder if Promil will work for past-his-prime people like me?


Reader comments/suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com


This article first appeared in Bobby Ang s column in Businessworld (Philippines) on 22 October 2007

[Pinoychess]

BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD, CHESS PIECE (2)
Talent is not enough

IN the just-concluded World Junior Championship which IM Wesley So led in the first half but collapsed in the second, I have read many armchair grandmasters complaining about Wesley's disappointing tournament. I have also seen some “analysis” suggesting that Wesley cleans up against the 2100-2300, but is having difficulty beating the 2400s and 2500s.

May I say this: SUSMARIOSEP! Give him a break, he is only 14 years old playing against internationalists many years his senior. The rating list is designed so that the higher your rating gets the stronger a player you are. Of course it is harder to beat the 2400s than the 2100s.

Does anyone realize that Wesley is already the strongest 14-year old in the world today? Here is the top 10 according to the latest FIDE Rating List:

1 IM Wesley So PHI 2531
2 GM Parimarjan Negi IND 2514
3 WG Hou Yifan CHN 2502
4 IM Yaroslav Zherebukh UKR 2450
5 SP Sethuraman IND 2427
6 IM Sanan Sjugirov RUS 2422
7 FM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan ARM 2389
8 FM Ilya Nyzhnyk UKR 2377
9 Nils Grandelius SWE 2377
10 FM Oliver Mihok HUN 2371

This is not to say that Wesley does not have to study anymore and everything will come of its own accord. On the contrary, the Philippines has had its share of child prodigies – in talent we are not inferior to anybody in the world.
Does anyone remember that in November 1998, at Disneyland, Paris, there was held the World Rapid Chess Championship for Kids? There were separate events for boys and girls, and there were two categories in each: 10-12 yrs old and 13-14 yrs old.

The Philippines scored a spectacular success by winning in two categories: Mark Paragua in the boys 13-14 section, and Arianne Caoili in the girls 10-12. Considering that they were ranged against the best kids worldwide, this feat is really something. Think about it: there were four section world championships up for grabs, a Hungarian won (Hera in the boys 10-12), a Russian won (Kosteniuk in the girls 13-14), and the other two trophies went to tiny little insignificant Philippines. Cool!!!!

But talent is not enough, as everybody knows. As you get older you have to put in the hard work to make the jump from “promising player” to world class grandmaster. Arianne Caoili, for example, never realized this. Later on she was to concentrate on her dancing and modeling, and the promise was never fulfilled. She is now better known as the girlfriend of GM Levon Aronian than as a strong player in her own right.
But what do you mean hard work? This is a tough question to answer, but I believe one way of looking at it, coming from a systems nerd like myself, is that you have to fill in the database with more data.

Dr. Philip Ross, a New York chess expert, wrote an article in the Scientific American called “The Expert Mind”. In oversimplified form he maintains that expertise in chess is primarily a matter of accessing "chunks" of data from long-term memory and using them in working memory.

This is more a matter of pattern recognition that in calculating more moves than a weaker player. We remember mating patterns, for example the “Greek Gift Sacrifice” against the castled king with Bxh7+ followed by Qh5+ and Ng5. Or the smothered mate trick of sacrificing your queen on g8 and mating with the knight on f7.

This pattern recognition is not only confined to mating attacks. There are techniques to be mastered in the endgame, in the middlegame you have to know what kind of endings to play for, whether in such and such a position you should strive to exchange pieces, or if winning chances are better if you exchange pawns. Attaining all this input requires hard work. And it is here that our talents more often than not fail.

Game shows Wesley’s tactical wizardry


Wesley So is extremely talented, now is the time for all of us to support him, encourage him, and help him make that big step. Here is a game he played in the Selection Tournament for the national squad going to the Macau Indoor Games. Look at it – and marvel at his tactical wizardry.

Nadera,Barlo (2402) - So,Wesley (2516) [E32]
Selection Tournament (Men) Tagaytay City (8), 02.08.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0–0

This is known as the flexible approach, as Black does not give White anything to attack and also waits for White to commit himself before deciding on how to lay out his pieces.

5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6

The Vitolinsh Gambit with 6...b5!? has its adherents, but lately Kasimdzhanov showed a good way to meet it: 7.cxb5 c6 8.Qd3! d5 (8...cxb5 9.e4 White has the two bishops and a solid center) 9.Bg5 cxb5 10.Nf3 a5 11.e3 Ba6 12.b4 This is Kasimdzhanov's idea. The bishop is locked in a cage created by his own pawns on b5, d5, e6. Kasimdzhanov,R (2672)-Naiditsch,A (2676)/ Fuegen 2006 1–0 (30).

7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3

This is the modern line, which has displayed 8.e3 in popularity. 8.e3 After the text Black has three main options: 8...d6, 8...c5, or the one that Wesley chooses, 8...h6 with ...d5.

8...h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.cxd5

The main line is 10.e3 , but it has recently received a huge blow when Gurevich (as White) lost two crucial games with it against Peter Leko in the Elista Candidates' matches. However, the text move is known to be OK for Black and in fact the second player statistically has a plus score with it in the international tournament circuit. And that is saying a lot.

10...exd5 11.Bxf6?!

Barlo goes after the pawn grab, which is perhaps not so advisable considering the tactical genius sitting opposite him across the board. The most with the better theoretical reputation is 11.e3.

11...Qxf6 12.Qxc7 Ba6 13.Qe5

Better than going to c3, which the German GM Luther has shown to be bad: 13.Qc3 Rc8

14.Qd2 Nc6 15.e3 Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Na5 17.Qd3 Nc4 18.b3 Qf5! 19.Ke2 Nxe3 20.Qxf5 Nxf5 21.Kd3 Re8 22.g4 Nh4 23.Nh3 Ng2 24.Rag1 Re3+ 25.Kd2 Rxb3 0–1 Sjoberg,M (2360)-Luther,T (2470)/ Borsodtavho 1991.

13...Qc6

Putting the queen on g6 is also possible, but I prefer Wesley's choice, since on c6 it protects the e8-square and so ...Re8 becomes an additional threat.

14.Qe3 Qc2 15.Qd2 Rc8 16.Nh3!

Good defence. Nadera declines to exchange queens, since after 16.Qxc2 Rxc2 apart from having a bad position he has to give back the pawn. Are we sure it cannot be saved? Let us see ... 17.b4 Nc6 18.e3 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 Re8 20.Re1 b5 Black is threatening ...Rc3 and the pawns fall. If White plays 21.Nh3 then 21...Nxd4 22.Nf4 (22.exd4?? Rxe1+ 23.Kxe1 Rc1+) 22...Ra2 23.Nxd5 Nc2 24.Re2 Ra1+ 25.Kf2 Rxh1 26.Rxc2 Ra1 black wins.

16...Qa4 17.Nf4 Rc2 18.Qd1?
18.Qb4 is better]
18...Nc6 19.Nxd5?

After this White is lost. The only way to resist is 19.Rc1 although his position remains uncomfortable after 19...Rxc1 20.Qxc1 Nxd4 21.Nxd5 Qa5+ 22.Nc3 Rd8.
19...Nxd4 20.Nc3

After 20.Nc3

20...Nxf3+!! 21.Kf2
[21.exf3 Re8+; 21.gxf3 Qh4# mate]
21...Qd4+ 22.Qxd4 Nxd4 23.Rd1 Nb3 24.Nd5 Bb7 25.Ne3 Rxb2 26.h4 Nd2 27.Rh3
[27.Ke1 Ne4 28.Ra1 Rc8 White is powerless to prevent Black's infiltration]
27...Ba6 28.Re1 Re8 29.h5 Re4 30.Rg3 Re5 31.Rh3 Rb3 32.a4 Ne4+ 0-1

Barlo resigns without waiting for 33.Kg1 Ng5.

Reader comments and/or suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com.

This column was first published in BusinessWorld on Friday, November 2, 2007.

[Pinoychess]

Wesley set to seek GM title in Second GMA Cup Open

reported by The Weekender

BACOOR wonder boy Wesley So will compete in the Second President Gloria Macapagal Cup Open, his mother has told The Weekender in an email.

As of yesterday, only two Filipinos—IM Richard Bitoon and Fide Master Oliver Barbosa—had signed up for the Open and eight others for the Challenge even as the number of foreign players rose to 28.

Those who have signed up for the Challenge division are Merben Roque, David Elorta, Rainer Labay, Ivan Gil Biag, Stewart Manaog, Ibaryu Andante, Ricson Yeo and Gerson Bitoon.

The official deadline for non-Filipinos to register for the GMA Cup Challenge and Open, which gets under way on Thursday, fell on October 31. Filipino players may sign up on the eve of the tournament.

Registration is free for the Open to grandmasters and players rated 2450 and above.

Those who sign up after the deadline will have to pay double, according to published regulations for the event.

Most of the participants from overseas are expected to fly in on Wednesday, November 21. Games begin on Thursday.

China, ranked No. 8 in the world, is sending the biggest delegation of players—13 in all, led by 24-year-old super GM Ni Hua, who ranks No. 5 in his country. The Chinese players registered in two batches. With Ni were two other GMs, Li Chao (2548) and Li Shilong (2509), ranked No. 9 and No. 15, respectively.

Others in the first batch were WGMs Zhang Jilin, Wang Yu and Gu Xiaobing and WIMs Huang Qian and Kuang Yihui.

In the second batch were FM Wu Xibin, Zhou Weiqi, Yu Lie, Shen Siyun and Xu Tung.

Indonesia is sending six players, namely, IM Tirto, Taufik Halay, Nathaniel Ivan Situru, Surya Wahyudi, WIM Irine Khariama Sukandar and Farid Firman Syah.

Vietnam is sending only two players, GMs Dao Thien Hai and Nguyen Anh Dung, while Iraq is sending three, namely, IM Saad Abdulla Sarsam, FM Noah Ali Hussein and Dilshad Emadal-din Muhammad.

IM So, who turned 14 while playing in Yerevan, earned his first GM norm in Bad Weissee in German’s Bavaria last year and his second norm in the 2007 World Juniors. He is the youngest Filipino ever to earn an IM norm and to play in the World Olympiad—at the age of 12 in Turin last year.

Among those expected to join before the GMA Cup Open gets under way are GMs Joey Antonio, Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua.

The country’s newest grandmaster, Darwin Laylo, is flying to Khanty-Mansiysk in northern Russia where he will compete for the World Cup with 127 others led by world No. 2 Vassily Ivanchuk.

GM-elect Laylo—his new title, earned when he finished seventh in the Asian Individual Championship last September, has yet to be ratified by Fide—has been paired against French GM Etienne Bacrot Most of the foreign players competing in the 2nd GMA Cup Open are expected to stay on for the Prospero Pichay Jr, Cup.

[Pinoychess]

GM Wesley So!!! Finally!

by Chess-kiko of philippinechesschronicles.blogspot.com
Friday, December 7, 2007


We have our 8th Grandmaster in the name of Wesley So! Hooray! Wesley So getting his
3rd and final GM norm in the last round of the 3rd Pichay Cup against GM Ehsam Maghami Ghaem of Iran!

Wesley with white, drew in 19 moves of Sicilian Najdorf. GM Ehsam offered the draw, that's all he needed to get that coveted title. A draw which will forever be remembered by Wesley!

Congratulations to you GM Wesley! Congratulations to Congressman Prospero Pichay! This is the fruit of all your efforts into supporting and spearheading all NCFP endeavors! To all the people in the NCFP, be proud for you are part of this!

We have a 14 year old Filipino Grandmaster!

Congratulations!

[Pinoychess]

Wesley So, 7th youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess

from chessdom.com

Wesley So becomes Grandmaster!
He scored the final norm at the 3rd Pichay Cup
Wesley So scored his final GM norm at the 3rd Pichay Cup and became one of the youngest Grandmasters in the history of chess. Wesley So, born October 9, 1993, achieved his title at age 14 years and 1 month and 28 days, which puts him as the 7th youngest Grandmaster in the history of chess.

The 3rd Pichay cup was won by the number one seeded Ni Hua with 7,0/9. He is followed by a countrymate of Wesley, GM Mark Paragua with 6,5/9, the same points as Zhang Zhong and Torre Eugenio. Wesley So finished 5th with 6,0/9, the same points as seven other chess players, but with a better tiebreak.

Congratulations Wesley on the GM title!

List of the youngest grandmasters
Sergey Karjakin 12 years, 7 months, 0 days
Parimarjan Negi 13 years, 4 months, 22 days
Magnus Carlsen 13 years, 4 months, 27 days
Bu Xiangzhi 13 years, 10 months, 13 days
Teimour Radjabov 14 years, 0 months, 14 days
Ruslan Ponomariov 14 years, 0 months, 17 days
Etienne Bacrot 14 years, 2 months, 0 days
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 14 years, 4 months
Péter Lékó 14 years, 4 months, 22 days
Yuriy Kuzubov 14 years, 7 months, 12 days
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son 14 years, 10 months
Fabiano Caruana 14 years, 11 months, 10 days

[Pinoychess]

‘We all salute you, Grandmaster Wesley!’

from the Weekender


THE entire nation of chess lovers celebrates this weekend the success of Bacoor Boy Wonder Wesley So in capturing the elusive International Grandmaster title at the Philippine-record age of 14 years, one month and 28 days.

The Weekender joins in the celebration and salutes Wesley for his wonderful feat that now goes into the national and global records (see earlier story on pages 3 to 5).
It is a double celebration considering that another young and intrepid Filipino, 20-year-old Singapore-based International Master, Julio Catalino Sadorra, has also earned his first GM norm
from the same event, the just-concluded Second Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup.
It can also be seen as a triple celebration, to include another valiant gladiator, David Elorte, 25, who rose from anonymity as an untitled and unrated.

GM-elect Wesley So, 14

Seventh youngest person to take the International Grandmaster title
player at Guadalupe Chess Club in Makati City, and went bravely forth to slay dragons and capture his first IM norm.
We can also include GM Mark Paragua for ending his two-year drought to capture a fair share of the second to fourth prizes with his fellow GMs Eugene Torre and Zhang Zhong.
But to Wesley So belongs the highest accolade. For he is only the third Asian to be one of the world’s two grandmasters who are still in their adolescence.
It is to be hoped that he will forge ahead to conquer new challenges. At least, he stands a very good chance of forging ahead of his peers.
It is in this context that we in The Weekender and our countrymen salute you, Wesley!
In the euphoria of the moment, chess czar Prospero Pichay also distributed P1,000 each to all players who did not win a prize in the tournament and stayed on to watch the awarding ceremony, Norlito Bersamina reported.
Pichay also gave an additional P50,000 cash to the prize Wesley got.
Wesley’s mom, Eleanor, told journalist Ignacio Dee that she hoped her son could lead a normal life as a teenager and that he should continue his studies to pursue a regular career even if he continues playing chess as a leading grandmaster.
This means we shall see him in action in the five international tournaments that the NCFP plans to hold next year, as revealed at the closing ceremony by Pichay.
Wesley, a high school sophomore in Saint Francis of Assissi College System in Bacoor, has said once that he plans to go to college and pursue a career in business management.
Meanwhile, reader praised Wesley for looking “very humble” in his moment of glory.
In an email, Regin Raymund Dais said Wesley had just drawn against Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami when he dropped by the tournament hall at the Free Duty Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City Friday afternoon. This was the draw that clinched Wesley’s third and final GM norm.
“Wes looked so happy but serene and very humble in the glory of his dreams come true. It was as if he was just enjoying the adrenaline rush and the games.. Sir William, his father, was doubly happier and even humbler in the grandeur of his son's singular achievement,” Dais wrote.
He added: “Now the world will take notice of Wesley. (I) hope he gets free invitations to stronger and more prestigious tournaments from now on so that the So family would be relieved of the burden of scrounging for funds and patrons. To think that GMs Hu Yifan (2502) and Parimarjan Negi (2514), who have lower ELO ratings than Wesley (2531), have been invited to play in Corus B and C, respectively, next year!
“Let's pray for GM Wesley So, the Philippines' own,” he urged Weekender readers.

[Pinoychess]

GM Wesley So to lead RP in Asian Team Championship

By Roy Luarca/Inquirer

SO YOUNG yet so good, Wesley So will again be tested when he spearheads a Philippine squad bound for the Asian Chess Team Championships in Visakhapatnam, South India, early next year.

Now the world's youngest Grandmaster at 14, So may yet be given the top board assignment over fellow GMs Rogelio "Joey" Antonio, Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua and International master Julio Catalino Sadorra when the Filipinos compete against the world-ranked Indians and Chinese and entries from the former Soviet Republics in the tournament set Jan. 2-11.

So, who became a full-fledged GM during the recent third Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup, is expected to overtake Antonio as the country's top player when the Fide (World Chess Federation) releases its players' rating in January.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Pichay is pleased with So's rapid rise and wants to give him maximum exposure.

Pichay said he will also nominate So to be the Philippine Sportswriters Association's "Athlete of the Year" for 2007.

"So's accomplishment in the international chess scene is unprecedented," said Pichay. "Right now, he is the world's youngest GM at age 14 years, one month and 28 days and the world's seventh youngest to achieve the feat."

So, the world's strongest player in his age-group, Antonio, Torre and Paragua were all members of the RP men's team that landed 44th in the 2006 Turin Chess Olympiad. Paragua manned the top board then with Torre and Antonio playing board 2 and 3 and So serving as an alternate.

Composing the women's team are Sheerie Joy Lomibao, Beverly Mendoza, Sherily Cua and Catherine Perena, the same players that gave the country 26th place in the Turin Olympiad.

[Pinoychess]

Star-studded Philippine Team to Asian Team Championship


By Ed Andaya/Journal

WESLEY So gets a baptism of fire as a full-fledged GM when he heads a star-studded Philippine team vying in the Asian Chess Team Championships set Jan. 2-11, 2008 in Visakhapatnam, South India.

So, who made chess history by becoming the world’s seventh youngest GM during the third Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup international chess tournament last week, was tapped to lead the five-man team seeing action in the tough, nine-round tournament which also include host India, China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and other former Soviet republics.

“This will be Wesley’s first major tournament since earning his GM title and we expect him to live up to his new role as the country’s most important player,” said Pichay, who takes pride in having produced two GMs since taking over as head of the chess association only last year.

The other GM is Darwin Laylo.

Also personally tapped by Pichay to represent the country in the first major international tournament of the year are GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr., Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua and GM-candidate Julio Catalino Sadorra.

The women’s team will be composed of Sherie Joy Lomibao, Beverly Mendoza, Sherily Cua and Catherine Perena.

Pichay said the players were chosen based on their performances in the recent Pichay Cup dominated by GM Ni Hua of China.

Paragua and Torre finished in a three-way tie for second to fourth places with GM Zhang Zhongn of Singapore with 6.5 points, while Antonio wound up ninth overall with six points.

Sadorra, on the other hand, earned his first GM norm in the Pichay Cup.

“This is a strong team, with So leading the way as a full-fledged GM ,” said NCFP director Willie Abalos.

[Pinoychess]

GM Wesley So to be nominated as Philippine’s “2007 Athlete of the Year”

Pichay said he will nominate GM Wesley So to the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) to be the “Athlete of the Year” for 2007.

“So’s accomplishment in the international chess scene is unprecedented,” said Pichay. “Right now, he is the world’s youngest GM at age 14 years, one month and 28 days and the world’s seventh youngest to achieve the feat,” added Pichay.

Based on official records, Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine was the youngest player to achieve his GM title at age 12 years old and seven months.

Also in the list are Parimarjan Negi of India (13 years, three months and 22 days), Magnus Carlsen of Norway (13 years, three months and 27 days), Bu Xiangzhi of China (13 years, 10 months and 13 days), Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan (14 years and 14 days), and Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine (14 years, 17 days).

[Pinoychess]

GM Wesley So tipped to be No. 1 in RP ratings list

by Manny Benitez

NEW Grandmaster Wesley So, 14, is expected to become No. 1 in the next ratings list, followed by the resurgent GM Mark Paragua, to be issued by the World Chess Federation (Fide) on January 1, 2008.
This forecast is based on the results of the recent Second President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup and the Third Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup hosted by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines under Butch Pichay at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in suburban Parañaque City and 2520, putting them in Nos. 3 and 4 among the country’s top players, respectively.
These calculations are expected to remain constant come January 1 because there are no other Fide-rated tournaments scheduled for this month in the country.
The present pecking order is 1. Antonio (2540), 2-3. Torre and So (2531) and 4. Paragua (2514).
Singapore-based IM Julio Catalino Sadorra who earned his first GM norm in the Pichay Cup International Open is also expected to barge into the Top Ten players with 2443, based on Manahan’s calculations.
The rest of the Top Ten in the fourth quarterly listing by Fide, issued on October 1: No. 5. Rogelio Barcenilla (2503), 6. Joseph Sanchez (2496), 7. Oliver Dimakiling (2491), 8. John Paul Gomzez (2469), 9. Roland Salvador (2456), and 10. Jayson Gonzales (2454). All six players are IMs.
Three of the six—Barcenilla in the US, Sanchez in France and Salvador in Italy—ar abroad. Like Gonzales, all three are GM candidates.
The three “giant killers”—David Elorta, Deniel Causo and Rolando Andador—are also expected to gain precious Elo points from the open tournaments, according to Manahan’s calculations.

[Weskin]

Hello,

What happen to Wesley So GM application ?? I browsed the FIDE site and
search for the approved application on just concluded FIDE assembly in
Singapore, his name is not included in the approved GM application, out of
nine applicant only three were approved four were deferred due to ratings.
Wesley So and Monica Socko of Poland application were not mentioned.

Kindly check baka may pulitika na naman dito..


Weskin

[Pinoychess]

Wesley So heads RP squad vying in Asian meet

from Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- Young sensation Wesley So will spearhead a strong Philippine team to the Asian Chess Team Championships slated Jan. 2-11, 2008 in Visakhapatnam, South India.

Joining So, currently the world's youngest Grandmaster at 14, are GMs Joey Antonio, Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua and International master Julio Catalino Sadorra.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero "Butch" Pichay and NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino jointly announced the country's participation in the tournament during a special gathering of players and media at the Syncopado's Restaurant along A. Mabini St., Malate.

The 10-day competition regularly attracts top chess-playing countries in Asia and the former Soviet republics.

So completed his GM requirements at age 14 years, one month and 28 days during the final round of the Pichay Cup chess championship held at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City on Dec. 8.

The women's team will be composed of Sherie Joy Lomibao, Beverly Mendoza, Sherily Cua and Catherine Perena.

"This will be our initial salvo for the new year," said Pichay, who is running for reelection as head of the country's chess body during the annual NCFP election on Jan. 19 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.

Tolentino, on the other hand, said the combination of youth (So, Sadorra) and experience (Torre, Antonio and Paragua) makes the five-man RP team as "one of the teams to beat in the Asian tournament."

[Pinoychess]

Laylo redeems self; whiz kid joins RP elite GM list

from sunstar cebu

MANILA—The year 2007 was a little bit tougher for Philippine sports but not for chess. In fact, never has the country produced two full-pledged grandmasters in just one year.

Darwin Laylo and 14-year-old Wesley So fulfilled their dreams of joining the elite circle of Filipino GMs composed of Eugene Torre (1974), Rosendo Balinas (1976), Joey Antonio Jr. (1998), Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor (2000), Nelson Mariano II (2004) and Mark Paragua (2005).

“This was a very memorable year for Philippine chess. We produced not only one but two GMs in just a span of three months. It’s great for the country because at least we already have seven active GMs,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and former Surigao congressman Prospero Pichay.

The seventh Filipino GM was Laylo, who secured his third and last norm by placing third in the 2007 Asian Chess Championship, which attracted five super GMs with a rating of more than 2600 and 27 GMs at the Cebu International Convention Center from Sept. 18 to 31.

Laylo, a Business Management graduate at the San Sebastian College-Recoletos, finished with 7.5 points, just half a point behind co-champions and super GMs Zhang Pengxiang and Wang Hao of China.

“It’s really my long time dream and I did it at the time when I was trying to prove myself before some people, who tried to put me down by involving me in an alleged game-fixing scandal,” said Laylo.

The youngest of five children of former tricycle driver Efren and sari-sari store owner Liwayway of Lipa City, Batan-gas, obtained his first norm at the 2006 Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur and second norm at the 2006 Bad Wiesse International Open in Germany.

His best finish in a major caliber international tournaments did not only earned him the full GM status but he also became the only Filipino to qualify to the 2007 World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansysky, Russia where he lost to France champion and super GM Etienne Bacrot (2695) in the second round.

“That is why I prefer to host international tournaments rather than sending players abroad because by hosting, many Filipino players can benefit,” said Pichay.

Just three months after Laylo fulfilled his dream, the young So of Bacoor, Cavite followed suit when he finished with six points in the star-studded 3rd Prospero Pichay International Open at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City on Dec. 7.

So’s feat, which he did at the age of 14 years, one month and 28 days, did not only make him the country’s eighth GM but also the seventh-youngest in the history of chess. The legendary genius, Robert ‘Bobby” Fischer, of the US got his GM title at 15 in 1958.

The former Promil Whiz kid, who is a sophomore high school student at the St. Francis of Assisi College System in Bacoor, Cavite got his first norm in the 2006 Bad Wiesse International Open in Germany. He got his second in the 9th World Juniors Chess Championhip at the Petrosian Chess House in Yerevan, Armenia last Oct. 14.

“I am very happy for my son. It’s a product of hard work. I knew he will become a GM, but I did not expect it to be this fast. It’s his childhood dream,” said Wesley’s mother Eleonor, comptroller of the De la Salle Health Science Institute in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

[Pinoychess]

14 year-old GM Wesley So

There’s a new kid in town - GM Wesley So

By Zaldy Dandan


ONE of the chess players who will be awarded the grandmaster title by FIDE next year is from the Philippines — Wesley So, who is only 14.

Born on Oct. 9, 1993, So secured his final GM norm at a recently concluded international tournament in Manila to become the seventh youngest GM in history. He was 6 when his father taught him how to play chess and was 9 when he started joining junior active chess tourneys where his aggressive style of play caught the attention of former Philippine champ IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso: “The young lad…would sacrifice a queen or any other pieces in his arsenal to get a winning attack.”

At 13, So had already won the national tournament for 14-under, the national juniors for 20-under and the national open. In 2005, So tied for first in the World Youth U12 Festival, ahead of prodigies GM Negi Parimarjan of India and WGM Hou Yifan of China. The following year, So qualified for the Philippine national team and became the youngest Filipino Olympian in history. On board six at the Torino Olympiad, he won two games, drew two and lost only one — to a Romanian GM. Before the end of the year, So got his first GM norm at a tournament in Bad Wiessee, Germany where he scalped German GM Michael Prusikin in a game whose creativity was praised by Russian commentators.

According to Cardoso, So does not have the full sponsorships enjoyed by the other chess prodigies. “He cannot afford a decent training given by well known GM-coaches and has to rely on his pure talent, diligence and, of course, the Fritz programs before competing.” But So’s chess prowess cannot be denied. In September, he got his second GM norm at the world juniors in Armenia. Last month, he participated in another international tournament, this time in Manila where he won his first three games and drew with six GMs to nail his third and final GM norm. So finished with a 6/9 score and a rating performance of 2620 to share fifth place behind the tournament champion, GM Ni Hua of China.

So’s parents are accountants and he goes to school at St. Francis of Assisi College System in Bacoor, Cavite, a province south of Manila.

Click here for the full article:
http://www.mvariety.com/?module=display ... ormat=html

[Pinoychess]

So, Barbosa, Alora top blitz groups

by Manny Benitez

GRANDMASTER-ELECT Wesley So, National Master Oliver Barbosa and non-master Verth Alora captured the top prizes in their respective groups at the Fianchetto Realty/Gold Edge Assets Christmas Invitational Tournament held at the Prince Gregory Condominium in Cubao, Quezon City last Friday.

GM-elect So won the premier prize of P4,000 by knocking out all his rivals, including co-finalist GM Joey Antonio and semifinalist International Master Chito Garma, in a clean sweep of the GM-IM blitz category.
GM Antonio received P2,000 as second prize while IMs Ronald Dableo and Garma shared P1,000 each as the third and fourth prizes.
IM Ronald Bancod, fifth, GM Darwin Laylo, sixth, and IM Jayson Gonzales, seventh, had P750 each for their efforts
Among the other masters, NM Oliver Barbosa ran off with the P3,000 first prize with NM Alex Milagrosa taking the second prize of P1,500.
NMs Emmanuel Senador and Erwin Carag shared P750 each for their landing the third and fourth prizes.
Twelve others, including WIM Cristine Mariano, got P500 each—NMs Rolando Nolte, Marlon Bernardino, Jerome Balico, Allan Sasot, Efren Bagamasbad, Ernesto Absin, Adrian Pacis, Mirabeau Maga, Ponce Badilles, Andrew Vasquez, and Rudy Ibañez.
Alora pocketed the top prize of P2,000 for the non-masters, followed by Jenny Mayor with P1,000 in second place. Ildefonso Datu in third, Rolly Yutuc in fourth and Marc Nazario in fifth got P500 each.
A total of 28 players took part in the event with prizes coming from chess celebrities.

[Pinoychess]

Wesley So's ‘walk in park’ to GM title

by Manny Benitez

AS reported in The Weekender of December 16, 2007, Wesley So “followed a very safe route and cautious style to capture his third and final norm and the title” in the Third Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Open held early last month.

In short, it was like “taking a walk in the park”—a safe stroll that precluded any misstep as had happened in the First and Second PGMA Cups and the Philippine Open in Subic as well as in the Asian Individual Championship in Cebu.
In those four events, Wesley stumbled at crucial turns, usually toward the endgame, often at times when he felt a GM result was within his grasp.
Learning from his mistakes, Wesley forced himself to develop self-restraint by reining in his youthful exuberance, and not to look for “brilliancies” but to focus on safety-first measures in the Pichay Cup. In the process, he developed a liking for short, quick draws.
Along the way, he has matured steadily and now plays like the grandmaster that he truly is.
At the Asean Masters in Tarakan, with the GM title in the bag, Wesley who is competing in Group A is expected to fall back anew on his trademark sharp tactical plays.

Srdjan Sale (2453) - Wesley So (2254)
Rd. 3.9, 8th Dubai Open, UAE 2006
Irregular Opening (A00)
1.g3 c5 2.Bg2 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e4 e6 6.d3 Nge7 7.c3 0-0 8.0-0 b6 9.a4 Ba6 10.Na3 Rc8 10...d5 11.e5 would have equalized 11.Re1 d6 12.Be3 e5 13.Nc4 Qc7 14.Qb3 Rcd8 15.Rad1 h6 16.Bc1 Kh7 17.Ne3 exf4 18.gxf4 f5 19.exf5 19.Nd5 Qd7 allows Black to equalize Nxf5 20.Nxf5 Rxf5 21.Nh4 Rf6 22.Qc2 Ne7 23.Qe2 Nf5 24.Nxf5 Rxf5 25.Be4 Rf6 26.Qg2 Bc8 27.Re3 Be6 28.Rg3 Qf7 29.Re1 Re8 30.Bd2 d5 31.Bf3 Qd7 32.b3 Bf7 33.Re5 Rd6 34.Rxe8 34.Bg4 Qc6 35.Rxe8 would give Black a big boost Qxe8 35.f5 Qe5 36.Bg4! d4! 37.c4 gxf5 38.Bxf5+! Qxf5! Black accepts the challenge 39.Rxg7+ Kh8 40.Rg3 Rg6 Not 40...Rf6 41.Qe2! 41.Qa8+ Not 41.b4 Rf6 42.h3 Qe5!, and the balance is restored Kh7! 42.Qxa7??
After 42.Qxa7??
The losing moment. 42.Qf8! offered the best chance to White.
42...Rf6! White resigns in disgust with himself. At any right, Black is decidedly winning, e.g., 43.Kh1 Qf1+ 44.Rg1 Qf3+ 45.Rg2 Rg6 46.Qxf7+ Qxf7 47.Rxg6 Qxg6! 0-1
Here is a beautiful minigem of a game that Wesley won in Cebu despite being off-form at that time.

Wesley So (2516) – M. Mahjoobzardast (2479)
Rd 4.9, Asian Individual Ch 2007
Pirc Defence, Austrian Attack

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Na6 7.0-0 c5 8.d5 Nc7 9.Qe1 e6 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5 Nfd5 Not 11...Nh5 12.f5 gxf5 13.Bg5! 12.Ne4 Nxf4 12...Ne8 13.Bb5 gives White the edge 13.Bxf4 White now has tremendous advantage Rxf4 14.Nxd6 Nd5 15.Qg3 Qf8 16.Rae1 16.Nxc8?! allows Black to equalize: 16…Rxc8 17.b3 Ne3! Ne7?? This simply worsens the situation. Best was 16...Bd7! 17.Ng5! Rxf1+ 17...Rf5 helps White, e.g., 18.Bc4 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Rxf1+ 20.Bxf1 Nd5 21.Nxc8!, and White surges ahead 18.Rxf1 Nf5 18...Qxf1+ won't improve anything: 19.Kxf1 h6 20.Qf3!, and White is winning 19.Bxf5 gxf5 20.Rxf5!!
After 20.Rxf5!!
If 20…exf5 21.Qb3+!, and a smothered mate follows. 1-0

In the Pichay Cup Open, Wesley began a quiet game that he just as quietly forced to end with another beautiful sacrifice of the exchange. To think that only two pawns had been swapped by either side!

W. So (2531) – R. Legaspi (2334)
3rd Pichay Cup Open, Parañaque 2007
Sicilian Kan (B42)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3² e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0 d6 7.c4 Be7 8.Nc3 0–0 9.Kh1 Nc6 10.Be3 Bd7 11.f4 Qb8 12.Qe2 Re8 13.Nf3 h6 Not 13...Qc7 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5, and White leads 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.e5 Ng4 16.Bc1 h5 16...dxe5 was better, e.g., 17.fxe5 Bb4! 17.Bb1 dxe5 18.fxe5!
After 18.fxe5!
The clincher: 18…Rad8 19.h3 Ncxe5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.hxg4 Qxe2 22.Nxe2 hxg4 23.Bc2! 1–0

[Pinoychess]

Indonesian Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto

Wesley So trips Indonesian GM as Paragua, Christy surge ahead

By Marlon Bernardino

BACOOR WONDER BOY Wesley So (2521) stunned Indonesian superstar Susanto Megaranto (2563) in the fifth round to score his first win in the Asean Masters Circuit even as Mark Paragua and Christy Bernales surged ahead with straight wins to keep Filipino hopes alive for a golden harvest in Tarakan.

The 14-year-old Filipino grandmaster-elect, who started with two draws and a loss, played solidly but wittily in defeating Indonesia’s strongest player in Group A (GM category).
But it was GM Paragua who created the biggest sensation by posting his fourth straight win, against WIM Irine Sukandar of Indonesia, to keep a perfect score after four games in Group B (also a GM category).
In Group C (WIM category), 14-year-old WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales closed in on leader IM Irwanto Sadikin of Indonesia with her second straight win—against Indonesia’s Tri Handayani—to boost her score to 3.5 from three draws and a win.
Both Paragua and Bernales have remained undefeated after four games.

Wesley now has 4.0 points entering the sixth round, as against Zhong’s 5.0. The former Chinese champion only drew his first-round game vs GM Megaranto.
WNM Bernales, however, lost to WIM Mendoza in their first-round game.

Three other Filipinos posted wins in the fifth round—NM Hamed Nouri in A and IM Jayson Gonzales and FM Rolando Nolte in B.
Each group has 12 players. Groups A and B have three grandmasters each while Group C has only one grandmaster (Edhi Handiki, whom Christy Bernales had thrashed in the fourth round) and four other titled players.
The sad news was that Filipino icon Eugene Torre, Asia’s first grandmaster, suffered his first loss in the fifth round—with Black to IM Nasib Ginting of the host country.
Other Filipinos who lost in the fifth round were IM Barlo Nadera in Group A (with Black to Indonesian IM Tirto), NM Oliver Barbosa in Group B (also with Black to Indonesian GM Cerdas Barus) and WIM Beverly Mendoza in Group C (with White to FM Graham Chua of Singapore).
The standings after the fifth round:
Group A—1. GM Zhang Zhong (SIN), 4.5; 2-4. IM Nathaniel Situru (INA), IM Mas. Hafizulhelmi (Mas) and IM Tirto (INA), 3.0; 5-7. NM Hamed Nouri (PHI), FM T.C. Purnama (INA) and IM Nasito Ginting, 2,5; 8-9 IM Wesley So (PHI) and GM S. Megaranto (INA), 2.0; 10-11. GM Eugenio Torre (PHI) and FM Cecep Kosashi (INA), 1.5; and 12. IM Barlo Nadera (PHI), 0.5.
Group B—1. GM Mark Paragua (PHI), 4.0; 2-6. IM Salor Sitanggang (INA), IM Ashot Nadanian (ARM), FM Syarif Mahmud (INA), IM Jayson Gonzales (PHI) and FM Rolando Nolte (PHI) 3.0; 7. GM Cerdas Barus (INA), 2.5; 8-9. GM H. Ardiyansah (INA) and NM Oliver Barbosa (PHI), 2.0; 10. Sugeng Prayitno (INA), 1.5; and 11-12. WIM Irine Sukandar (INA) and Mok Tze-Meng (MAS), 0.5.
Group C—1-2. IM Irwanto Sadikin (INA) and GM Edhi Sandoko (INA), 4.0; 3-4. Christy Lamiel Bernales (PHI) and FM Graham Chua Xing-Jian (SIN), 3.5; 5. NM Levi Indiawati (INA), 3.0; 6. Nguyen Thi Moi Hung (VIE), 2.5; 7-8. Jeslin Tai Li-Jin (SIN) and NM Tri Handayani (INA), 2.0; 9. WIM Beverly Mendoza (PHI), 1.5; 10-11. WNM Narasa Verdiana (INA) and WFM Victoria Chan Wei-Yi (SIN), 1.0; and 12. WNM Citra Dewi (INA), 0.5.

W. So (2526) – S. Megaranto (2563)
Rd 5, Alekhine Defense, Four Pawns Attack (B03)
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nge2 Bg4 9.Be3 Qd7 10.0-0 Nb4 11.b3 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 d5 13.c5 Nc8 14.Ng3 Bh4 14...0-0 15.Rae1 would have equalized, says Fritz 15.f3 Be6 16.Nh5 0-0 17.Qd2 Bd8 18.Rae1 f6 19.Re2 Bf7 20.Nf4 If 20.Ng3 Re8 Ne7 Equalizing 21.Rfe1 Nc6 21...Re8 22.a3 should keep the balance 22.Bf2! Be7 23.b4 a6 24.a4 Rfe8 25.b5 axb5 26.axb5 Na5 27.Ncxd5 Bxd5 28.Nxd5 Qxd5 29.Rxe7 Rxe7 30.Rxe7 Nb3 31.Qc3 Ra1+ 32.Re1 Rxe1+ 33.Qxe1 Kf7 34.Qc3 Ke6 34...Qe6 35.b6 c6 36.h3 would give White the edge 35.h4 h5 35...Kf7 would boost White’s lead: 36.Qe3 c6 37.b6! 36.Be3 36.Qe3+ was stronger Kd7 36...Kf7 should reduce White’s lead 37.Qc2 f5 38.Qc3 g6 Better was 38...f4, cutting down White’s advantage 39.Bf2 Qe6? 40.Bg3 Missing the more decisive 40.c6+!Qd5 41.Be5 c6 42.bxc6+ Also playable was 42.Qb4 Kxc6 43.Qb4 Nc1??

[Pinoychess]

Updates on GM Wesley So!!!

Wesley will not join the tough Russia’s Aeroflot Open


“As of today, Wesley is not joining Aeroflot Open.”

This was the reply thru e-mail by Mrs. Leny So, Wesley’s mother, to Pinoychess.informe.com with regards to the child prodigy’s preparation before the said tough tournament.

“Actually he is busy catching up with his studies. Today, they will dissect a frog for their lab project.” Mrs. So added.

Mrs. Wesley So pointed out before that aside from wanting her child to be a successful chess player, she also wants Wesley to concentrate on his studies and to have a normal life =)

Thanks Mrs. Leny So for the updates on our idol =)

Mrs. So also shared two photos taken during Asean Masters in Tarakan Indonesia last January 8-20, 2008.

Intermission Number

GM Wesley So (left) vs Indonesian FM Cecep Kosasih

[Pinoychess]

Grandmaster Wesley So

GM Wesley So as a role model

by Manny Benitez

OUR young players are very fortunate indeed to have a role model in 14-year-old Grandmaster-elect Wesley So, who received his third award last night from the Philippine Sportswriters Association as the country’s most outstanding chess player.

It is my hope that other children will aspire to be like Wesley who is now the youngest grandmaster in the world and the seventh youngest person to have earned the highest title that the game can bestow—at the age of 14 years, one month and 28 days last year.
Wesley’s source of strength besides his enormous talent is his coolness under fire backed by alertness and boldness as his games would show.
Srdjan Sale (2453) - Wesley So (2254)
Rd 3, 8th Dubai Open 2006
Sicilian Defense (B20)
1.g3 c5 2.Bg2 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e4 e6 6.d3 Nge7 7.c3 0–0 8.0–0 b6 9.a4 Ba6 10.Na3 Rc8 11.Re1 d6 12.Be3 e5 13.Nc4 Qc7 14.Qb3 Rcd8 15.Rad1 h6 16.Bc1 Kh7 17.Ne3 exf4 18.gxf4 f5 19.exf5 Nxf5 20.Nxf5 Rxf5 21.Nh4 Rf6 22.Qc2 Ne7 23.Qe2 Nf5 24.Nxf5 Rxf5 25.Be4 Rf6 26.Qg2 Bc8 27.Re3 Be6 28.Rg3 Qf7 Targeting the isolani on f4 29.Re1 Re8 30.Bd2 d5 31.Bf3 Qd7 32.b3 Bf7 33.Re5 Rd6 34.Rxe8 Qxe8 35.f5 Qe5 Not 35...Be5 36.fxg6+ Bxg6 37.Rg4! 36.Bg4 d4 37.c4 gxf5 38.Bxf5+ Qxf5 39.Rxg7+ Kh8 40.Rg3 Rg6 41.Qa8+ Kh7 42.Qxa7??
Finally, White overextends himself, possibly rattled by Wesley’s calm responses. Best was 42 Qf8!, Fritz has pointed out.
42...Rf6! Black resigns in the face of certain defeat: 43.Kh1 Qf1+ 44.Rg1 Qf3+ 45.Rg2 Rg6 46.Qxf7+ Qxf7 47.Rxg6 Qxg6! 0–1
W. So (2516) – M. Mahjoobzardast (2479)
Rd 4, Asian Championship, Cebu 2007
Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack (B09)
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Bd3 Na6 7.0–0 c5 8.d5 Nc7 9.Qe1 e6 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5 Nfd5 12.Ne4 Nxf4 13.Bxf4 Rxf4 14.Nxd6 Nd5 15.Qg3 Qf8 16.Rae1 Ne7?? 16...Bd7 was better but White would still have the edge 17.Ng5! Rxf1+ 17...Rf5 was more precise, but White would still surge ahead, e.g., 18.Bc4 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Rxf1+ 20.Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Nf5 18...Qxf1+ is an improvement, but White would still win: position 19.Kxf1 Bd7 20.Nxh7 Bxe5 21.Qxe5 Kxh7 19.Bxf5 gxf5 20.Rxf5!!
Black sees the light—and resigns as there is no saving resource: 20…Bd7 21.Rxf8+! Rxf8 22.Qd3! 1–0
W. So (2526) – B. Nadera (2417)
Rd 7, Asean Masters, Tarakan 2008
French Defense (C17)
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 Trying to unravel the pawn chain, says Fritz 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxb4 7.Nb5 Nc6 8.axb4 Bxb4+ 9.c3 Be7 10.Ba3 a6 11.Bxe7 Ngxe7 12.Nd6+ Kf8 13.Bd3 Qc7 14.Qh5! Threatening mate via Qxf7 Nd8 Fritz gives numerous possibilities arising mainly from 14...Nf5 15.Bxf5 15.Ne2 Bd7 16.0–0 Better than 16.Bxh7 Ng8! Nc8 17.Nxc8 Signaling the start of an assault Rxc8 18.f4 18.Bxh7? loses to 18...Bb5! Qb6 19.Rab1 Fritz notes that 19.Bxh7? would be great except for 19...Bb5 20.Rfb1 Qc6 21.Rxb5 Qxb5, and Black surges ahead Qa7 20.Kh1 Better than 20.Bxh7 Ke8 b5 21.f5 Not 21.Bxh7 f5 22.exf6 Be8! exf5 22.Bxf5 Rc6 Fritz suggests 22…Kg8!? 23.Nf4 Not 23.Bxh7? Ke8 24.e6 Rxe6, and Black leads Rxc3? Best was 23...Bxf5, e.g., 24.Qxf5 Ke8 25.Nxd5 h5 24.e6!
Demolishing the pawn shield with a powerful wedge.
24...Bc6 25.Rbe1 Qxd4 Fritz gives this mating line: 25...Qe7 26.exf7 Nxf7 27.Bxh7 Ke8 28.Rxe7+ Kxe7 29.Re1+ Kd8 30.Qxf7 Kc8 31.Qa7 Bd7 32.Nxd5 Be6 33.Qxa6+ Kb8 34.Qb6+ Kc8 35.Qxe6+ Kb7 36.Qb6+ Ka8 37.Ra1+ Ra3 38.Rxa3#! 26.e7+! Ke8 27.exd8=N+! Kxd8 28.Qxf7 Qf6 29.Ne6+! The end: 29…Qxe6 30.Rxe6 Bd7 31.Rd6 Rc7 32.Bxd7 Rc6 33.Bxc6+ Kc8 34.Qb7#! 1–0
Indeed, it is a tribute to his upbringing that Wesley has remained modest and even shy in public. A scholar in school, he shows no arrogance and is leading a very normal life despite all the accolades heaped on him for his exploits on the 64-square board.
There is no doubt about it: he is the best chess prodigy the country has yet produced.

[Pinoychess]

Gm Wesley So

GM Wesley So captures Candon chess crown

from People's Tonight

CANDON, Ilocos Sur -- GM Wesley So added another feather to his cap by ruling the Candon City Mayor Allen Singson Cup invitational chess championship at the Stern Mall in San Nicolas here over the weekend.

So, at 14 the country’s youngest GM with an ELO of 2526, finished with six points on five wins and two draws in the tough, seven-round Swiss tournament organized by the Candon City government in honor of Mayor Singson and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

The win was worth P15,000 and a trophy for the high school student from Bacoor, Cavite.

NM Ronald Llavanes and unheralded Ronald Adaya shared second to third places with 5.5 points, only half a point behind So.

Llavanes and Adaya split the combined P17,000 second and third prizes.

Six players, led by NM Mirabeau Maga, finished in a tie for fourth to ninth places.

Joining Maga with five points were NM Rustum Tolentino, IM Chito Garma, IM Richard Bitoon, NM Nicomedes Alisangco and NM Eduardo Agagon,

Top junior standout Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Ateneo finished 10 th with 4.5 points.

Sharing the limelight were Patrick Dulay, who topped the 16 years old and under category; and Philip Ian Balbin, who dominated the 12-under class.

NCFP executive/events director Willie Abalos is the chief supervising arbiter, while FA Ilann Perez, NA Salvador Tardecilla and NA Edwin Pulido were the arbiters.

[Pinoychess]

GM Wesley So (4th from left) after leading the 2008 Mayor Allen Singson Cup

After winning the Candon chess cup
GM Wesley So to campaign abroad in search for Super GM status

from GMANews.TV

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur - The world's current youngest grandmaster, Wesley So, watched the live telecast of the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch at Stern Mall here before the final round of the Mayor Allen Singson Cup.

After Pacquiao eked out a split decision victory, So also settled for a draw with Candon's Ronald Adaya to clinch the 1st prize worth P15,000.

So scored 6 points in the seven-round Swiss System. National Master Ronald Llavanes settled for 2nd with 5.5 points, the same score garnered by 3rd placer Adaya. Both won P8,500.

Fourth is NM Mirabeau Maga with 5 points, followed by NM Rustom Tolentino, International Master Chito Garma, IM Richard Bitoon, NM Nicomedes Alisangco and NM Eduardo Aragon, who all got 5 points.

Adaya also won the Best Ilocos Surian award.

Patrick Dulay of Vigan City won the 16-under category, a category that So, who is only 14 years old, could easily have joined and won. Philip Ian Balbin of Candon won in the 12-under.

After this, So said that he might campaign abroad to up his current FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation) rating of 2526 to the Super GM status or a FIDE of 2600 or higher.
______________

Other pic courtesy of GM Wesley So's mother, Mrs. Eleanor So =) Thanks po =)

[Pinoychess]

PLAYING AGAINST THE BEST: GM Wesley So spends a few seconds pondering his next move against one of 25 opponents—the best players in Ilocos Sur—during a simultaneous exhibition in Candon City. Undaunted, he swept all 25 of them off the boards!

‘ONE AGAINST 25’
GM Wesley So shuts out rivals in Candon simul

by Manny Benitez

LIKE most boys his age, the world’s youngest grandmaster played his favorite game as soon as school was over—up north, in Candon City. Unlike most boys, however, he was alone against 25 adversaries, the best and strongest players in the entire province of Ilocos Sur. GM Wesley So, the 14-year-old Boy Wonder from Bacoor, Cavite, was invited by Candon City Mayor Allen Singson to do a simultaneous exhibition billed as “One Against 25.”

As expected, the Chosen One beat them all, not even drawing a single game.

Despite not having played serious chess since the Asean Masters Circuit in Tarakan, Indonesia last January, Wesley showed that his “killer instinct” was as sharp and active as ever.

Now that school is over—he was a sophomore at St. Francis de Assisi High School in Bacoor in the just-ended school year 2007-08— he plans to play actively during the summer holidays.

His immediate goal? “To become a super grandmaster” by the age of 15. A super GM is one who has an Elo rating of 2600 and above. Now rated at 2526, Wesley has a lot of work to do
between now and October 9 to attain the super-GM status.

In the meantime, he practices daily against strong software chess programs like Fritz 11 and
ChessBase 9, GMA News has quoted his father William as saying.

William serves as his personal manager.

[Pinoychess]

GM Wesley So 3rd in Dubai Blitz Chess Tournament 2008

by Rodel

Congratulations GM Wesley for placing 3rd place in the recently concluded Dubai Blitz Tournament, and again for beating 2007 World Junior Champion GM Adly (twice in a row 2-1, Sweet!!).

See the reports and results at http://www.arabfide.com/dubaiopen2008/ and download the games in PGN too.

[Pinoychess]

Indonesia’s 2008 JAPFA Chess Festival