Filipino GM Wesley Barbasa So Makes History, Breaks 2,700 ELO Barrier in 28th Reykjavik Open Chess Championships

Individual standings after Round 9:

7.5 points---GM Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), GM Wesley Barbasa So (Philippines)

7.0 points---GM Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland), GM Anish Giri (The Netherlands), GM Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), IM Wei Yi (China),  GM Gawain Jones (England), GM Bassem Amin (Egypt)

Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) defeated GM Marcin Dziuba (ELO 2602) of Poland to keep share of lead with GM Pavel Eljanov (ELO 2678) of Ukraine who brought downed GM Ding Liren (ELO 2709) of China after the ninth and penultimate round of 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Reykjavik, Iceland on Wednesday.

The Filipino champion went for a queen sacrifice in exchange of a rook and bishop. The position was very sharp and So claimed a winning advantage with an exchange sacrifice. A very nice final sequence finished in checkmate on move 41 of their Caro-kann defense encounter using the white pieces.

According to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., after the win over Polish GM Dziuba, So made history breaks 2700 Elo barrier.

" Wesley's current live rating is 2701.4 after the win over Polish GM (Marcin) Dziuba." said Pichay, who watched the game live through internet. 

So's Rating Performance going to the 10th and final round is 2768.

"We hope manalo si Wesley kay GM (Pavel) Eljanov sa last round para makuha nya ang first major title sa taong ito," added Pichay, who is also a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board of trustees under the leadership of Jose' Peping" Cojuangco Jr. 

Eljanov, meantime played with black against Ding. The game was highly tense from the beginning because both players decided to expand their pawns on the flanks, leaving their kings uncastled. The Ukrainian was the first one to break in the center with a knight sacrifice for two pawns. The Chinese needed to play precisely to avoid losing immediately, but was not able to do so. He resigned on move 22 when black is about to create a super strong passed pawn on the queenside.

"Brilliant din y'ung pagkapanalo ni Eljanov kay Ding Liren," last word of Pichay.

Eljanov will have the white pieces on Thursday against So for the coveted title. Eljanov and So, both tallied 7.5 points in the ten (10) Swiss-System event which offers a prize fund of 15,000 euro with the winner taking 5,000 euro and the runner-up getting 2,000 euro.

Bunch of 7.0 pointers are GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland, GM Anish Giri of The Netherlands, GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, IM Wei Yi of China,  GM Gawain Jones of England and GM Bassem Amin of Egypt.

Gajewski split the point with Wei after 33 moves of Neo-Gruenfeld defense, Giri toppled countryman GM Erwin L'ami after 40 moves of Slav defense, Cheparinov routed GM Mustafa Yilmaz of Turkey after 41 moves of another Slav skirmish, Jones subdued GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden after 51 moves of English Opening and Amin shocked GM David Navara of Czech Republic after 38 moves of Bogo-Indian defense.

So’s campaign is backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.

The tournament serves as So’s build up for the 2013 World Chess Cup scheduled on August 10 to September 5in Tromso, Norway. Joining So in the World Chess Cup is fellow GM Oliver Barbosa.        -Marlon Bernardino-