Wesley closes in on World Cup berth

TAGAYTAY, Philippines – Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So virtually clinched a spot in the coming World Chess Championship as he outwitted Vietnamese international master Nguyen Duc Hoa in an impressive victory in the seventh round then drew with countryman GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the eighth round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship here at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.

Playing with black, So agreed to a draw with Antonio after 31 moves of French defense to tally 6.5 points in eight rounds in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. and the city council.

“It’s a good result allowing me to preserve my strength for the final round tomorrow (today),” said the 19-year-old So, the country’s highest-ranked player and the tournament’s top seed with an Elo rating of 2682, who needs only a draw in the final round to gain a return stint in the World Chess Championships.

“Wesley is deserving. At least, we have another player with a World Cup berth virtually in the bag,” said Antonio, the 12-time National Open champion.

So, earlier, grabbed the solo lead in the seventh round following his impressive victory over Nguyen Duc Hoa late Sunday.

Antonio helped So gain the lead as he halved a point with erstwhile co-leader second seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son.

Ngoc Truong Son (5.5 points) and countryman GM Cao Sang (5.0 points) were still battling it out on Board Two at press time. Defending champion GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia was up against GM Mark Paragua while GM Darwin Laylo was playing compatriot GM John Paul Gomez in other crucial matches.

The game between of GM Eugene Torre against GM Dao Thien Hai ended in a draw.

In other seventh round results last Sunday, Megaranto split the point with Laylo, Paragua edged countryman GM Richard Bitoon and Gomez subdued FM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam.

In the women’s division, WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam defeated Bernadette Galas of the Philippines after 34 moves of Sicilian defense, dragon variation to keep the lead with 6.0 points.

Galas who upset WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen of Vietnam in the sixth round remained at four points, the same score of WIM Medina Warda Aulia and WIM Sihite Chelsie Monica of Indonesia, WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen and WIM Hoang Thi Nhu Y of Vietnam, IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia.

WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram and WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam, both tallied 4.5 points apiece for second and third places.