Wesley drawswith Ivanchuk, stays at helm

MANILA, Philippines - Wesley So held former World Challenger Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine to a draw in a slambang Sicilian duel to remain tied for the lead with two others in the fourth round of the Capablanca Memorial 2014 at the Habana Riviera in La Havana, Cuba yesterday.

So, 20, seized the initiative in the middlegame, coming up with a passed pawn on the c-file in a same-color bishop ending. After a series of exchanges, the Filipino ace emerged with a pawn up but Ivanchuk, who lost to countryman Ruslan Ponomariov in the 2002 World Championship match, used his experience and deep knowledge of the line to escape with a draw after 85 moves.

So thus hiked his total to 2.5 points for a share of the lead with Hungarian Zoltan Almasi, who halved the point with Cuban Lazaro Batista Bruzon, and top seed Leinier Dominguez Perez, who trounced Spanish Francico Vallejo Pons.

So also split the point with Bruzon in the opener, beat Vallejo Pons in the second round, and drew with Perez, the highest ranked player in the event with a 3768 rating.