Idol Wesley shocks super GM Ivanchuk

Wesley So shocks super GM Ivanchuk in World Chess Cup

Yes! Idol Wesley, you just did it! We are So proud to be a Filipino chess player. Did I just knock out Vassily Ivanchuk?? Actually this pictures of Weslesy so was taken before the game. (picture lifted from ChessBase.com)

LONE FILIPINO survivor GM Wesley So (2460) upset the current no. 12 in FIDE’s top 100 list, Ukraine’s GM Vassily Ivanchuk (2739), in the first game of their scheduled two-game match in the World Chess Cup at Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, on Tuesday.

Handling the Black pieces, So beat the higher-rated Ivanchuk in yet another French Defense struggle that saw both players choosing sidelines over known continuations. The game proceeded into a previously played line but Ivanchuk deviated on move 13, sacrificing his d-pawn but setting some complications over the board, resulting in some material imbalance.Ivanchuk refused a draw through a perpetual check on the 23rd move but was soon lost as So consolidated his material advantage en route to a 39-move victory.

So only needs a draw in the next game tomorrow to advance to the third round when he could face the winner of the match between USA’s GM Gata Kamsky (2695) and China’s GM Zhou Weiqi (2603).So is already guaranteed $10,000 which could possibly increase to $16,000 for reaching the third round.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. lauded So’s performance, "Wesley made the country proud. It’s no joke if you beat one of the greatest top chess players in the world. We (at NCFP) hope Wesley can hold the momentum," said Pichay. -- MB

(news from Business World Online 11/26/09 Wesley So shocks super GM Ivanchuk in World Chess Cup)