So forces 2nd draw vs Karjakin

MANILA, Philippines - GM Wesley So fought top seed Sergey Karjakin of Russia to another draw yesterday, forcing another two-game tiebreak today in their round of 32 clash in the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

The 17-year-old So and Karjakin agreed to a standoff after only 26 moves of a Nimzo-Indian game, bringing their match to a tiebreak, a time-shortened duel with both players allowed two time control of 25 minutes each plus a 10-second increment for every move made.

It will be the second time the Filipino champion will play in a tiebreaker after nipping Chinese GM Ding Liren to complete a 2.5-1.5 victory in the first round.

So and Karjakin, 21, also halved the point in 31 moves of a French Defense in the first game.

The winner of the So-Karjakin showdown clashes with the victor in the equally interesting match pitting another Russian Sergei Movsesian and Hungarian wonder woman Judit Polgar, who drew their first game and are battling each other in their second match at press time.

So is hoping to duplicate, if not surpass, his quarterfinal finish in the event two years ago when he upset heavy favorites Gata Kamsky of the US and Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine before bowing to Russian GM Vladimir Malakhov.