WESLEY SO BEATS REIGNING WORLD JR CHAMP; TIES LEAD IN DUBAI CHESS

Dubai Chess, Individual Standings after round 4:

4.0 points---GM Wesley So (PHILIPPINES), FM Saleh Salem (UAE)

3.5 points---GM Tamaz Gelashvili (Georgia), GM Abhijeet Gupta (India), GM Yuri Drozdovskij (Ukraine), GM Tigran Kotanjian (Armenia), GM Pavel Kotsur (Kazakhstan), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia)

3.0 points---IM Julio Catalino Sadorra (PHILIPPINES)…23 others

DUBAI---RP Whiz Kid No.16 pick GM Wesley So (2540) continued his impressive performance by demolishing reigning world junior champion No.9 GM Ahmed Adly (2578) of Egypt to share the lead with No.33 FM Saleh Salem (2429) of the host country, who beat No.13 Zhou Weiqi (2560) of China after the fourth round of the annual $45,000 Dubai Open dubbed as The Sheikh Rashed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup being held at the Dubai Chess Club in United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Interestingly, both So and Salem, are 14-years-old and will dispute the leadership board in the next round after tallying identical 4.0 points apiece.

"I felt very happy when I became a Grandmaster. Maybe I will become a model for my fellow players. My aim now is to become a super Grandmaster," So said in a local newspaper (Gulf News).

So is currently the youngest world Grandmaster and seventh youngest in chess history. He clinched a place in history last December at the age of 14 years, one month and 28 days. He is also the top Philippine Player in the April 1, 2008 FIDE rating list.

So, whose local and International campaign is supported by NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Filway Marketing Inc. CEO/President Hector Tagaysay learned the game of chess at the age of seven.

"Both Wesley (So) and Ino (Sadorra) are in the right track. I hope they can maintain the momentum until the next round," said NCFP president Pichay.

Meanwhile, No.29 IM Julio Catalino Sadorra (2455) held another draw this time against No.8 GM Li Chao (2581) of China to accumulate a total 3.0 points on two wins and two draws. The Singapore-based Sadorra who also drew with No.10 GM Tigran Kotanjian (2570) of Armenia in the third round climbed into a tie for 9th to 32nd placers along with fifth round opponent No.6 GM David Arutinian (2593) of Georgia, who also drew with No. 17 GM Rasul Ibrahimov (2535) of Azerbaijan.

Not as fortunate were oversees Filipino workers, former RP kiddie champion NM Robert Arellano and journalist Jobannie Tabada who lost their respective rivals. Arellano bowed to Amin Nasrin of Iran while Tabada succumbed to IM Mas Hafizulhelmi of Malaysia. Arellano and Tabada joints 51st place with 2.0 points each together with FM Antonio Molina, who crushed Amil Ali Taghikhani of Iran. Another Filipino entry Ernesto Yap remains at 1.0 point losing to FM Srinath Narayanan of India.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison