So takes on Aeroflot

So’s next stop, Russia’s Aeroflot chess open
02/04/2009 07:44 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Fresh from a victory in the 71st Corus Chess tournament in the Netherlands, Filipino grandmaster Wesley So is already preparing to lead the Philippines campaign in the 2009 Aeroflot Open chess championship.

But unlike in the Corus Chess where So was the lone Filipino campaigner, this time International Master Richard Bitoon, Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Haridas Pascua will be joining him when the Aeroflot Open begins on February 16 in Moscow, Russia.

“Mas mahirap, mas malaking challenge para sa akin yung Aeroflot. Mas madaming malalakas na players ang kasali dun (Aeroflot will be a big challenge for me. A lot of strong players will be competing),” said the 15-year-old So in a press conference held at the VIP Lounge of NAIA in Parañaque City on Wednesday.

“Pero gagawin ko po ang lahat ng aking makakaya sa Moscow. Konting pahinga lang muna tapos ensayo na uli (But I will do my best in Moscow. I will rest for a few days then start training),” added So, who arrived with his father-trainer William at 9:45 a.m.

The Aeroflot tournament has a total prize of 70,000 euros ($89,952), with the top finisher bagging 21,000 euros ($26,986), the runner-up pocketing 12,000 euros ($15,420) and the third placer winning 7,000 euros ($8,995).

Bitoon will compete in Division A-2 while Garcia and Pascua will participate in Division B.

One of the missions of the Filipino campaigners is to better the 21st-place finish of GM John Paul Gomez and the 76th-place finish of IM Julio Catalino Sadorra last year. – GMANews.TV