Right moves: So is chess gold nugget in ’09
12/29/2009 01:40 PM
Being described as a “gold nugget” by the chess-crazy Russians during the 2009 World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiyk, Russia is proof enough of a sterling year for the Philippines’ top woodpusher Wesley So.
The 16-year-old So carved RP chess history by making it to the 16-player fourth round of the world’s biggest individual chess competition, surpassing the achievements of GMs Joey Antonio and Mark Paragua, who reached as far as the second round. Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre qualified as far as the quarterfinal stage but in a different world championship elimination format.
And So did it in style, claiming the scalps of two elite players along the way.
After opening his World Cup campaign with a 4-1 win over GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan, So stunned former world championship contender Vassily Ivanchuk of the Ukraine (ELO 2739), 1.5-.5, and 2008 World Cup titlist Gata Kamsky of the US (ELO 2695), 1.5-.5 to reach the Last-16 round.
He fell short of a quarterfinal berth, though, losing to GM Vladimir Malakhov (ELO 2706) of Russia, 1-4.So’s strong performance against more-experienced rivals earned praise from the Russian hosts.
“It is obvious: a new fantastic “gold nugget” has been found in Khanty Mansiysk now,” the hosts wrote about So in the World Cup’s website. “Most probably in the nearest future, he will aspire for a place among the chess elite. And this is clear: no one from the high-class favourites can defeat him here.
“Tournament commentator GM Sergey Shirov added: “The fact that Wesley So was born and grew up in a non-chess country, the Philippines, speaks about his fantastic talent.”
Here is the full article.
Hopefully So will not be a butt-nugget in 2010.
The Philippines is a “non-chess country”? Ignorant Russians!
The Philippines produced Asia’s first IM and first GM. We also have the present FIDE president emeritus (for better or for worse).
“We also have the present FIDE president emeritus (for better or for worse).”
Damn right!
Phillippines is very much a chess country. Ordinary people all over are playing in front of their houses and on street corners. In most of Europe chess is still a game of the intellectual elite. In Philippines it is a game of the common people.
True dat! I go to the corner store and sometimes there are two guys playing chess. At my barber shop, I can sometimes hear the click of a chess clock as a couple of off duty barbers go at it in the back room.