SO WINS, ANTONIO, LAYLO FALTERS IN ROUND 1 OF WORLD CHESS CUP

MANILA, Philippines—Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So opened his bid in a bright note after beating GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan at the start of the prestigious 2009 World Chess Cup on Saturday in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.
The 15-year-old So, who hold an ELO rating of 2640 defeated the 23-year-old Guseinov (2625) using the white pieces.

Guseinov have a chance to level the count at 1-all if he win his second game match against So to force a possible play-off match. If So, the youngest Filipino GM, succeeds in his first-round match, he will face either GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine or GM Alexei Bezgodov of Russia in the second round. Ivanchuk, on the other hand won his match.

GMs Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (2574), and Darwin Laylo, (2552) meanwhile lost their first round matches.
The Sta. Mesa, Manila pride Antonio, the 12-time national open champion bowed to defending World Chess Cup champion GM Gata Kamsky (2695) of the United States after 42 moves of a Caro-Kann Defense while Laylo, who hails from Marikina City yielded to GM David Navara (2707) of Czech Republic.
The second game of their two game knock-out match is schedule late Sunday. So needed only a draw to progress while Antonio and Laylo, is in a must win situation for a possible play off.

The triumvirate backed up by NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and PSC chairman Harry Angping, already guarantee $6,000 for making it to the 128 players field main draw. Organized by the World Chess Federation and will ends on December 15.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.