So joint 2nd, claims WC berth

MANILA, Philippines - Wesley So drew his final round match with fellow GM Zhou Jianchao of China to finish tied for second in the ninth Asian Individual Chess Championships yesterday and clinch a berth in next year’s World Cup.

Needing only a draw to assure himself of another stint in the World Cup, So readily agreed to halve the point with Zhou of China to finish with 6.5 points in a tie with GM Abjiheet Gupta of India, Le Quang Liem of Vietnam and Zhou at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center in Subic.

“I’m happy to make it to the World Cup again,” said So, who scored upset victories over former world championship candidates GM Gata Kamsky of the United States and Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine in last year’s World Cup.

“I really wanted to finish the tournament unbeaten, but I committed a slight mistake and he (Ni) was quick to capitalize,” said So, referring to the highly rated Chinese player whom he beat during the World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany two years ago.

So and Jianchao used only 10 minutes and 14 moves before agreeing to draw their Berlin Opening game.

But it was all the 16-year-old Filipino champion needed to ensure his second straight appearance in the World Cup where he made an impressive Last 16 finish the last time out.

So had five wins, three draws and only one loss in the nine-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) for the third time in four years.

His setback to Ni in the seventh round Tuesday stalled So’s title drive with the Chinese ace also drawing his final round match with Gupta to emerge the solo champion with 7 points. Ni won $6,000.

Joining Ni and So in the World Cup are Gupta, Zhou and Liem.

Liem clinched the fifth and last berth to the World Cup by humbling GM Liren Ding of China.

Meanwhile, national junior standout Jan Emmanuel Garcia toppled GM Saleh Salem of UAE to emerge the second-best Filipino performer with 5.5 points.