So, Gomez share lead in Battle of GMs

So, Gomez share lead in Battle of GMs
abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 05/27/2010 8:36 AM Updated as of 05/27/2010 8:36 AM

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So defeated FIDE Master (FM) Haridas Pascua to score his 2nd straight win in the ongoing 2010 Phoenix Petroleum “Battle of GMs” chess championships in Tagaytay City on Wednesday.

So beat Pascua in 37 moves of the Grunfeld using the disadvantageous black pieces.

The 16-year-old Filipino champion, who is hoping to make history by winning an unprecedented 3rd straight title, exploited Pascua’s weak pawn structure resulting from a passive pawn push on the 11th move to win his 2nd straight game.

“I like my chances here now, pero matagal pa ang laban,” said So, who opened his campaign with a victory over US-based International Master (IM) Julio Catalino Sadorra in the 1st round last Tuesday.

The 11-round tournament is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in cooperation with Phoenix Petroleum and the Tagaytay City government.

“I know I can’t afford to get overconfident since malalakas din ang mga kalaban dito,” said So, who is scheduled to compete in an invitational tournament in Biel, Switzerland in July and the Rising Stars vs Veterans tournament in Amsterdam, Netherlands in August.

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