WESLEY SO BOUNCED BACK IN RD 9 OF WORLD JR CHESS

Individual Standings after round 9:(Boys)
7.0 points--- GM Wang Hao (China), GM Ahmed Adly (Egypt)
6.5 points--- GM Arman Pashikian (Armenia), GM Georg Meier (Germany), GM Ivan Popov (Russia), IM Grigoryan Avetik (Armenia)
6.0 points--- IM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Victor Laznicka (Czech Republic), GM Dmitry Andreikin (Russia), GM Parimarjan Negi (India), IM Gopal Narayanan (India), IM Marcus Ragger (Austria), IM Abhijeet Gupta (India)


AFTER two consecutive loses, Filipino Wesley So bounced back in contention by beating fellow IM Sasha Kaplan of Israel to climb into a tie for 7th to 13th placers in the ninth round of 2007 World Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the T. Petrosian Chess House in Yerevan, Armenia late Friday.

IM Kaplan resigned after 45 moves of a four knights game when the Filipino campaigner threatening the former (IM Kaplan) in a one move inevitable mate.

The 14-year-old So had a rook in the seventh rank, bishop and two pawns against IM Kaplan's rook and four pawns.

With the win, So from Bacoor, Cavite raise his total points to 6.0 points and climbed into a tie for 7th to 13th placers in the company of GM Victor Laznicka of Czech Republic, GM Dmitry Andreikin of Russia, GM Parimarjan Negi of India, IM Gopal Narayanan of India, IM Marcus Ragger of Austria and tenth round opponent IM Abhijeet Gupta of India.

Top seed GM Wang Hao (2643) trounced over-night solo leader GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt after 60 moves of a Sicilian Defense to tied GM Adly in the leadership board with 7.0 points each.

GM Arman Pashikian of Armenia, on the other hand nipped GM Maxim Rodshtein of Israel after 38 moves of a Slav Defense to scored 6.5 points and shared 3rd to 6th placers along with GM Georg Meier of Germany, GM Ivan Popov of Russia and IM Grigoryan Avetik of Armenia in this 80 player's field of the Boy's 20 and under class applying 13 round Swiss-system tournament.

In the Girl's 20 and under division, WIM Vera Nebolsina of Russia continues her winning run after crushing WGM Sabrina Vega of Spain to tote 8.0 points and remain on top.

At solo second place with 7.5 points is IM Dronavili Harika of India who dealt WGM Sanjay Karavade of India.

Meanwhile, Filipino Woman National Master Aices Salvador yielded to WFM Klaudia Kulon of Poland to stack at 4.0 points and dropped into a tie for 35th to 42nd placers. The 17-year-old La Salle management student will face WIM Khaled Mona of Egypt in the next round in the 58 player's field.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)