WELL RESTED WESLEY SO LOOKS FOR A BIG WIN AGAINST ISRAELI GM

Individual Standings after round 8, Group B:

6.5 points— GM Anish Giri (Netherlands)

5 points— GM Erwin L’Ami (Netherlands), GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Ni Hua (China)

4.5 points— GM David Howell (England), GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany), GM Pentala Harikrishna (India)

4 points— GM Parimarjan Negi (India)

3.5 points— GM Emil Sutovsky (Israel)

3 points— GM Tomi Nyback (Finland), WGM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania)

2.5 points— GM Dimitri Reinderman (Netherlands)

2 points—GM Varuzhan Akobian (USA)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—AFTER getting the much needed rest, Filipino GM Wesley Barbasa So is looking for a big win in the 72nd Corus international chess championship group B as he battles Israeli GM Emil Sutovsky using the white pieces Tuesday night (Manila Time) in his ninth round match at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.

The 16-year-old Bacoor Cavite whiz kid So, whose stint here is being supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/ President Hector “Chito” Tagaysay, is now tied in second place with Chinese GM NiHua and GM Erwin L’Ami  of the Netherlands with 5 points each, 1.5 points behind with leader Dutch GM Anish Giri who tote 6.5 points in eight outings. the 15-yera-old Giri, who root is from Nepal and currently living in Holland.

So made a quick draw over Chinese GM Ni Hua after 17 moves of Sicilian Rossolimo using the disadvantageous black pieces on Sunday. Sutovsky, on the other hand held a draw over top seed GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany after 49 moves of Four Knights Rubinstein skirmish.

The players had a day off Monday. The 13 round-robin tournament will ends on January 31.

So drew his first five games against top seed GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany, GM Erwin L’Ami of the Netherlands, GM Varuzhan Akobian of the U.S. and GMs Parimarjan Negi and Pentala Harikrishna of India. He then won two straight games against GM Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania and GM Dimitri Reinderman of the Netherlands.

Who is GM Emil Sutovsky?

According to 1996 Philippine Junior champion NM Roberto Suelo Jr., Sutovsky relocated to Israel in 1991.He was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, which is famous for being the birthplace of the legendary and former world champion Garry Kasparov. In 2005, the 32-yera-old Sutovsky had a tournament win against then world champion GM Vladmir Kramnik of Russia. Sutovsky’s favorite defenses with black include the Sicilian, Gruenfeld and King’s Indian.

” Hindi basta-basta si GM Emil (Sutovky), pero naniniwala ako na malulusutan y’an ni GM Wesley (So),” said NM Suelo, who led the Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong City in a numerous chess title including the SCUAA-NCR during the mid 90’s.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO