Webster U freshman Wesley So, Cebuano Enrico Sevillano in a 6 way tie for 1st at Las Vegas International Chess Festival 2013

by Marlon Bernardino

Final Standings:
5.0 points---GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Jaan Ehlvest (Estonia), GM Varuzhan Akobian (Armenia), GM Alejandro Ramirez (Costa Rica), GM Manuel Leon Hoyos (Mexico), GM Enrico Sevillano (Philippines)
4.5 points---GM Ray Robson (USA), GM Elshan Moradiabadi (Iran), GM Dmitry Gurevich (Russia), IM  Mackenzie Molner (USA), IM Joseph Mark Bradford (USA)

Manila---World Cup-bound  Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So of Bacoor, Cavite and Grandmaster Enrico Sevillano of Cebu made the country proud anew by finishing in a tie for first to sixth spots in the just conluded National Open Championship dubbed as Las Vegas International Chess Festival 2013 at the  Riviera Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on Monday (Sunday Evening in US time).

The freshman Webster University GM So, the country’s top-ranked wood pusher, finished with 5.0 points on four wins, two draws in six outings. Also with 5.0 points were GM Jaan Ehlvest of Estonia, GM Varuzhan Akobian of Armenia, GM Alejandro Ramirez of Costa Rica, GM Manuel Leon Hoyos of Mexico and GM Enrico Sevillano of the Philippines.

" Masayang-masaya po ako kasi muli na naman nagbigay ng karangalan sa bayan sina GM (Wesley) So at GM (Enrico) Sevillano na nag tie for first sa Las Vegas International Chess Festival 2013," said GM Darwin Laylo, one of the closest friend of GM So back here in Manila.

The reigning Calgary, Canada Open champion So defeated GM Tamaz Gelashvili of Georgia in the fifth and penultimate round then halved the point with GM Alejandro Ramirez of Costa Rica in the sixth and final round. The Tehachapi, California, based Sevillano subdued GM Conrad Holt of the United States and GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez of Cuba in the last two rounds to catches So on top.

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. , Deputy Secretary-General Red Dumuk 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 5 in Tromso, Norway. Joining So in the World Chess Cup are fellow GM Oliver Barbosa and GM Mark Paragua.