FILIPINO GM WESLEY SO IS LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST WIN—PICHAY

Individual Standings after round 4, Group B:

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

2.5 points— GM Erwin L’Ami (Netherlands), GM David Howell (England),GM Pentala Harikrishna (India),

2 points— GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany), GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania), GM Tomi Nyback (Finland), GM Parimarjan Negi (India),

1.5 points— GM Emil Sutovsky (Israel), WGM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine)

1 point— GM Varuzhan Akobian (USA),

0.5 point—GM Dimitri Reinderman (Netherlands)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—A well rested Filipino GM Wesley Barbasa So is looking for his first win as he battles Indian GM Pentala Harikrishna last night (Thursday) in the fifth round of 72nd Corus international chess championship group B at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.

After getting the much needed rest on Wednesday, the 16-year-old So, the 2009 Corus C group champion, drew his first four round assignment against top seed GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany, GM Erwin l’Ami of the Netherlands, GM Varuzhan Akobian of the United States and GM Parimarjan Negi of India, rsepectively.

Over-all, So tallied total 2 points, and joints sixth placers in the company of Negi, Naiditsch, former World Champinships finalist Romanian GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu and Finnish GM Tomi Nyback.

“Crucial game ni Wesley (So) sa fifth round, hope manalo siya,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., who bankrolled the local and international chess campaign of So together with Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/President Hector “Chito” Tagaysay.

Dutch GM Anish Giri and Chinese GM Ni Hua, both leading in the 13 round-robin tournament with 3 points each tries to maintain their lead goes up against Israeli GM Emil Sutovsky and England GM David Howell, in order.

In other Thursday’s fifth round pit GM Tomi Nyback of Finland versus GM Erwin l’Ami of the Netherlands, WGM Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine opposite GM Dimitri Reinderman of the Netherlands, GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany verus GM Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania and GM Varuzhan Akobian battles GM Parimarjan Negi of India.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.