One of world’s top chess grandmasters wins tournament in Plymouth
Article by: DENNIS J. MCGRATH , Star Tribune
Updated: September 1, 2014 – 1:11 PM
Grandmaster Wesley So went undefeated in the weekend tournament.
One of strongest chess tournaments in Minnesota in recent years was held this weekend in the Twin Cities, with a grandmaster ranked 14th in the world winning the event.
Filipino GM Wesley So, 20, took clear first with four wins and a draw at the Noel Skelton Open, held at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West hotel in Plymouth.
So is rising star in international chess circles, rocketing from 38th in the world a year ago to 12th last month. In the latest world chess rankings for September, he occupies the 14th spot. With a U.S. chess rating of 2781, So is counted among the world’s elite grandmasters known as “super grandmasters.”
So, who is attending Webster University in St. Louis, is working on changing his affiliation from the Philippines to the U.S. Chess Federation, and recently served as a coach for the U.S. team competing in the world Chess Olympiad in Norway.
A second grandmaster who competed in the tournament, Chile’s Mauricio Flores, 23, is attending the University of Minnesota.
Minnesota’s two top players, International Masters Sean Nagle and John Bartholomew acquitted themselves well against the two grandmasters, notching even scores against them. Nagle drew with both GM’s and Bartholomew defeated Flores and then lost to So in the final round to determine the champion.
The event drew over 100 players for the tournament held on Saturday and Sunday.
Source: http://www.startribune.com
Is this a FIDE rated event or a mere exhibition games? Wonder if it is standard, blitz or rapid chess? Anyone?
Did GM Wesley So earn any elo points here? A 5 or so elo points gain can bring him to top 10….
The article is INCOMPLETE as it DID NOT say whether its FIDE rated or not… So its keep readers guessing & Wesley So fans anxious as to whether he gain or loss elo points LOL
Why worry? Be happy. Who cares? The NCFP is out to destroy him anyway.
Is this Hydrant GM Jayson Gonzales? The bitter & jealous GM & Executive Destructor of NCFP? LOL
One more pretender trying to emulate the great GM Nakamura. This world is full of wannabes but lacks the talent of Naka.
Think for GM Wesley So fans it is imperative that they know whether its FIDE rated or not as they are tracking his progress to top 10. As you observed, what separates GM Wesley So from the top 10 is a mere 6 elo points to become the new number 10. So yeah, they have every right to know if its a FIDE rated event or not. So if you dont want to read it, buss off.
The 2014 Noel Skelton Open is NOT a FIDE rated event. Its a chess tourney for fun only. If they registered it with FIDE it could have been rated but the organizers have to pay FIDE a fee which they wont anyway.
Its not a Fide rated event. Neither fide.com or 2700chess.com DOES NOT even KNOW it EXIST. Its akin to Wesley So went out for a joy ride to have fun… knowing its a non- rated event. Just to keep off the rust and enjoy scenic view of Minessota lol
People dont give a darn about GM Wesley So & they darn dont respect him even though he is now ranked #14 in the world (before #12). 2700chess.com dont even give a shit about the next event of GM So that they did not even list the 2014 SPICE Cup Open as GM Wesley So next event in October 2014. They dont even give recognition for Wesley winning the 2014 Noel Skelton Open indicative its not FIDE rated and just a trash tourney. Whereas other 2700 GM’s their next event are already listed months ahead in 2700chess.com They discrimate agaibst GM Wesley So & they dont respect him much.
Wesley cannot schedule in advance due to the uncertainty of his change of federation status. Stop hating. Yiu will soon eat your words.
Wesley lost 1 USCF rating point in this event by drawing the severely underrated IM Sean Nagle (2414 FIDE). So if it is FIDE rated, which I think it wasn’t, but I could be wrong, then Wesley would most likely either gain 1 point or lose a point.