So bounces back with draw

MANILA, Philippines -  Wesley So settled down following a stinging setback, fighting Englishman Michael Adams to a 41-move draw of a King’s Indian Attack in the second round of the Shamkir Chess-Gashimove Memorial 2017 in Azerbaijan Saturday.

The reigning US champion gave up a pawn to create a counter-play and a queenside passed pawn but Adams came through with accurate counter moves to turn the match into a drawish opposite-colored bishops ending.

Still, the draw came like a whiff of fresh air for So, who saw his unbeaten run of 67 come to an end with a 39-move defeat to local ace Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, the world No. 10, Friday night.

Ukrainian Pavel Eljanov seized the solo lead with two points with a victory over Indian Pentala Harikrishna.

So is tied at the bottom with Harikrishna, Azeri Teimour Radjabov and Polish Radoslaw Wojtaszek with half a point to show.

So plays Wojtaszek in the third round.