CORUS B CHESS: THIRD STRAIGHT DRAW FOR GM WESLEY SO

Round 4 pairings, Group B:

Erwin l’Ami - Varuzhan Akobian

Parimarjan Negi - Wesley So

Pentala Harikrishna - Arkadij Naiditsch

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu - Anna Muzychuk

Dimitri Reinderman - David Howell

Ni Hua - Anish Giri

Emil Sutovsky - Tomi Nyback

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Individual Standings after round 3, Group B:

2.5 points— GM Anish Giri (Netherlands), GM Ni Hua (China)

2 points— GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany)

1.5 points—GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Erwin L’Ami (Netherlands), GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania), GM Pentala Harikrishna (India), GM Parimarjan Negi (India), GM Emil Sutovsky (Israel), GM David Howell (England),

1 point— GM Varuzhan Akobian (USA), GM Tomi Nyback (Finland), WGM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine)

0.5 point—GM Dimitri Reinderman (Netherlands)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES— Filipino GM Wesley Barbasa So notch his third straight draw against American GM Varuzhan Akobian in the third round of 72nd Corus international chess championship at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlandson Monday.

The 16-year-old top rated Filipino player handling the white pieces for the first time and the game was ended in a draw after 33 moves of the Tarrash defense with Akobian having two rooks and three pawns to So’s Queen and four pawns.

“It’s another draw for Wesley So in the third round against Akobian of the U.S. A Tarrash opening that ended in a draw after 33 moves. Wesley refused Akobian offered of a draw in 18 moves but Wesley declined, having a better position but very hard to convert to a win. Akobian escapes and a draw was agreed upon.” Said Wesley’s long-time manager/businessman Reginald Tee who also in Holland.

So’s fourth round opponent is Indian GM Parimarjan Negi who also drew with Corus B tops seed German GM Arkadij Naiditsch after 39 moves of Sicilian defense, Najdorf variation.

The Latvian-born Naiditsch who is highest Elo rating 2689 in the Group B three-division tournament took solo third spot with 2 points.

Chinese GM Ni Hua, meantime crushed Finnish GM Tomi Nyback after 38 moves of Gruenfed defense for his 2.5 points. He shared 1^st to 2^nd placers with over-night solo leader Dutch GM Anish Giri woh settled a truce with countryman GM Dimitri Reinderman after 31 moves of Dutch Classical.

Indian GM Pentala Harikrishna beat Ukranian WGM Anna Muzychuk after 89 moves of Caro-Kann defense in other interesting result.

England GM David Howell, on the other hand slit the point with former World Championships finalist Romanian GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu after 23 moves of Sicilian Classical, as well Israeli GM Emil Sutovsky and Dutch GM Erwin L’Ami agreed a 24 moves draw in their French skirmish.

So’s Corus chess campaign is backed up by NCFP president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/ President Hector “Chito” Tagaysay.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.