WESLEY SO FALTERS IN ROUND 10 OF WORLD JR. CHESS

Individual Standings after round 10:(Boys)

7.5 points--- GM Wang Hao (China), GM Ivan Popov (Russia), IM Grigoryan Avetik (Armenia)

7.0 points--- GM Ahmed Adly (Egypt), GM Georg Meier (Germany), GM Dmitry Andreikin (Russia), IM Abhijeet Gupta (India)

6.5 points--- GM Arman Pashikian (Armenia), GM Daniel Stellwagen (Netherlands), GM Victor Laznicka (Czech Republic), IM Marcus Ragger (Austria), IM Davit Jojua (Georgia),Viacheslav Kulakov (Russia)

6.0 points---IM Wesley So (Philippines),GM Maxim Rodshtein (Israel), GM Parimarjan Negi (India), GM David Howell (England), GM Gawain Jones (England), IM Daan Brandenburg (Netherlands), IM Evgeny Romanov (Russia), IM Gogineni Rohit (India), IM Gopal Narayanan (India), IM Fidel Corrales (Cuba), IM Tamas Banusz (Hungrary), IM Hrant Melkumyan (USA)

A day after securing his second grandmaster (GM) norm, Filipino Wesley So continued his inconsistent performance and lost his match against IM Abhijeet Gupta of India in the tenth round of 2007 World Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the T. Petrosian Chess House in Yerevan, Armenia late Saturday.

The 14-year-old Bacoor, Cavite campaigner resigned after 38 moves of a Sicilian Defense, Ritzer Rauzer Attack using the white pieces.

So, becoming youngest Chess Olympic member at the age of 12 committed a big blunder in the 24th move after pushing his rook to d4 square to lead his fatal loss position in this 80 player's field of the Boy's 20 and under class applying 13 round Swiss-system tournament.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) incumbent executive director lawyer Samuel Estimo lauded RP whiz kid So for obtaining his second GM norm.

"No doubt, Wesley (So) will be the youngest Filipino GM ever. I also predict that, at his peak, he will also attain the highest Fide Elo rating for any Filipino. Henceforth, he will be a fixture in RP teams to many, if not, all world chess competitions." said Estimo, a two-time Olympic chess member.

With two rounds to go, So who had an Elo rating of 2531 was stuck at 6.0 points and dropped into a tie for 14th to 25th placers along with eleventh round opponent IM Gogineni Rohit of India who held into a draw with GM Maxim Rodshtein of Israel.

GM Ivan Popov of Russia inflicted the second straight loses of former leader GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt after 81 moves of a Reti Opening to create a three-way tie in the leadership board.

GM Popov raised his total of 7.5 points, the same output of GM Wang Hao of China and IM Grigoryan Avetik of Armenia.

The top seeded GM Wang made a quick 8 moves draw against GM Georg Meier of Germany in their London System battle while IM Avetik downed compatriot GM Arman Pashikian.

GM Adly remains at 7.0 points and share 4th to 7th placers along with GM Meier, IM Gupta and GM Dmitry Andreikin of Russia, winner over IM Gopal Narayanan of India after 33 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense.

In the Girl's 20 and under division, IM Dronavili Harika of India grabs the solo leadership board with 8.5 points after beating WGM Bathuyag Mongontuul of Mongolia after 43 moves of a King's Indian Defense.

Overnight solo leader WIM Vera Nebolsina of Russia suffered his first loss to WGM Jolanta Zawadzka of Poland after 42 moves of a Sicilian Pelikan. WIM Nelolsina remains at 8.0 points but occupied solo second place. At third is WGM Zawadzka with 7.5 points.

Meanwhile, Filipino Woman National Master Aices Salvador split the point with WIM Khaled Mona of Egypt to notch 4.5 points. The 17-year-old La Salle Management student is schedule to meet WFM Irina Gevorgyan of Uzbekistan in the next round is jointly tied at 33 rd to 41st placers in the 58 player's field.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)