World Chess Cup 4th rd spot within So’s reach

11/28/2009 | 07:47 PM

Filipino teen Grandmaster Wesley So continued his giant-killing ways when he scalped defending champion GM Gata Kamsky of the United States in Friday’s third round of the 2009 World Chess Cup at the Khanty-Mansiysk Centre in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

So, who barged in the 32-player field after scoring a second-round upset win over former world championship contender GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, the 16-year-old stunned Kamsky in the opener of their crucial two-game third-round showdown.

Once again handling the black pieces, So needed 53 moves of the French defense to turn back the older and more-experienced Kamsky, who offered a draw with the Bacoor, Cavite native in the 18th move.

But So, who is one of the world’s top junior players with an ELO of 2640, playing with calm and ease, refused Kamsky’s offer.

In the end, So got the advantage with a queen, rook, knight and four pawns as his remaining pieces against Kamsky’s queen, rook, knight and two pawns.

With more active pieces, So attacked Kamsky’s widely-exposed king on g2 to force the
Novokuznetsk, Russia-born woodpusher to give the match to the Filipino.

“I really played very well against him (Kamsky). I was prepared for the game. I caught him at the opening and he spent a lot of time,” said So. “I just hope that tomorrow I will be also lucky.”

So, who will play the white pieces, only needs a draw against the 27th ranked Kamsky (ELO 2695) to reach the 16-player fourth round that is being played at this Scandinavian resort-like town in Western Siberia.

If Kamsky wins the match will go into a rapid tiebreak match on Sunday. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/

Posted by Picasa
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Tags: , , ,