FILIPINO WESLEY SO OUSTED FELLOW SUPER GM KAMSKY; BARGES INTO SWEET 16 (WORLD CHESS CUP)

MANILA, Philippines - FILIPINO Wesley Barbasa So (2640) held fellow Super GM Gata Kamsky (2695) to a draw (42 moves of English Opening) in their second game as the Filipino GM advanced to the fourth round while booting out the heavyweight and the defending World Chess Cup at the Khanty-Mansiysk Center of Arts in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia late Saturday.
The 16-year-old So, who stunned Kamsky with the black pieces to win their first game, satisfied a draw using the advantageous white pieces for a 1.5-0.5 score to move in the Last 16 of the tournament which gathered the world’s best players.
The fourth-year high school student of St. Francis of Assisi College will face the winner of the match between GM Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine and GM Vladimir Malakhov of Russia.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. lauded So impressive performance.
“At this point Wesley has the momentum. He might just sweep the world cup to become world cup champion. Wesley is a sensation and have made us Filipinos proud,” said NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.

BY: NM MARLON BERNARDINO

So, Wesley vs Kamsky, Gata

1. c4 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O Qe8 8. Re1
e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. e4 f4 11. gxf4 Bg4 12. Nd5 Na6 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qd5+ Be6
15. Qxb7 Nc5 16. Qb5 Nd3 17. Qxe8 Raxe8 18. Rd1 Nxf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. e5 Bg7
21. Nd4 Kh8 22. Bc6 Re7 23. Bd5 Bh3 24. Rd3 Rxe5 25. Rxh3 Rg5+ 26. Kf1 Bxd4 27.
Re1 Bc5 28. Re6 Bd6 29. Rb3 Rh5 30. h3 Kg7 31. Rb7 Kh6 32. Bf3 Rxh3 33. Kg2 Rh4
34. Rb5 Rf7 35. Rd5 Bf8 36. c5 Bg7 37. b4 Bc3 38. a3 Bb2 39. Ra6 Re7 40. Rxa7
Re1 41. Rd1 Rxd1 42. Bxd1 *0.5-0.5