Wesley’s run in World Chess Cup ends
abs-cbnNEWS.com 12/02/2009 10:25 PM
MANILA — Wesley So’s astounding run in the 2009 World Chess Cup came to an end after the Filipino grandmaster lost his playoff match against Russian GM Vladimir Malakhov in the fourth round of the competition in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
So (ELO 2640), who twice held Malakhov (ELO 2706) to a draw, yielded to the Russian GM in three straight tie-break matches of rapid chess.
The Bacoor-based chess player yielded to the 22nd-seeded Russian in 55 moves using the black pieces during their first-tie break match. This was followed by another win by Malakhov after 61 moves in the second match.
The 59th-seed So tried to fight back in the third game but Malakhov took advantage of the momentum to win the round in 32 moves.
The score was 4-1 in favor of the Russian.
Thus ended So’s campaign in this year’s World Chess Cup, which saw him winning over two chess heavyweights on his way to the fourth round.
Prior to facing Malakhov, So shocked Chess Cup defending champion super GM Gata Kamsky of the US in Round 3. He also pulled the rug from under World No. 12 GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine in Round 2.
So, who is already assured of $30,000 (P1.41 million) prize money for reaching Round 4, also defeated GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan in Round 1.
Best showing for RPSo’s fourth-round finish is arguably the country’s best showing in World Chess Cup history, surpassing the efforts of his compatriots, GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. and Mark Paragua.
Antonio and Paragua reached the second round of the competition.
GM Eugene Torre, Asia’s first GM, reached the quarterfinal stage under a different elimination format.
So earlier said he will be working to achieve super GM status by breaking the 2700 ELO barrier.
“I dream that sooner or later, I will come to the magical point 2700. I don’t know how much time I will need for that,” he said.
as of 12/02/2009 10:36 PM
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com
We’re proud of you Wesley.
So had a great run. I’m sure we’ll hear much more from him. Sadly, now all the youngesters (So, Caruana, and Vachier-Lagrave) are out. I hope So’s success inspires someone to sponsor the kid.
Gelfand will win this cup.
His time has come…
Wesley’s result isn’t really all that amazing, considering his rating. He’s only 100 points lower than the top guns, which means that he should win once in every three or four games. The odds of someone of his rating stringing together a few wins is not that great – it just happened to be him this time.
Why do kids need to win such event? It’s a good result, but surely they have to mature and that’s a good thing. If you only have to be born to be interesting you don’t value people for long.