Wesley moves up to No. 64

MANILA, Philippines - GM Wesley So continued his steady climb to the world ranking, moving up to No. 64 after gaining 9.3 points in the latest International Chess Federation (FIDE) rating list.

It was the highest rating ever reached by a Filipino with the 16-year-old So tipped to improve more as he competes in top level tournaments in the next few years.

So, the seventh youngest in the world to clinch the GM title, earned 9.3 points in the recent Corus B Chess in the Netherlands and Aeroflot Chess in Russia for a 2665 ELO rating as he climbed from No. 77 last January to No. 64 this month.

He is now the No. 2 player in the world in the U-18 (active players) category and No.1 in Asia in the same category.

“I would like to break the 2700 ELO barrier,” said So, one of the major awardees in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night last Monday.

“For sure he (So) will have a chance to break that barrier since we have more international tournaments lined up for him,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines president/chairman Butch Pichay Jr.

But while So improved, the Philippines faltered and slid two notches down to No. 33 in the world ranking.

GMs Joey Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo, IM Banjo Barcenilla, GMs John Paul Gomez and Eugene Torre are the next top Filipino players with ratings of 2572, 2527, 2518, 2507, and 2506, respectively.

Despite completing his three GM norms, the US-based Barcenilla, the former Asian junior champion, remains an IM.

Mark Paragua, who reached the super-GM status five years ago, landed at No. 7 with 2497 followed by Europe-based GM Joseph Sanchez (2493), IM Roland Salvador (2483) and IM Richard Bitoon (2476).

GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway posted a career-high of 2813 rating to retain his No. 1 world ranking in the FIDE March 2010 rating list.

Carlsen added 3.0 ELO points more to his January 2010 rating to firm up his hold of the top spot.

GM Judith Polgar of Hungary still leads the distaff side with 2682.