Wesley So gains share of lead in Las Vegas International Chess Festival 2013

by Marlon Bernardino

Individual standings after Round 5:

4.5 points---GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Alejandro Ramirez (Costa Rica), GM Manuel Leon Hoyos (Mexico)

4.0 points---GM Ray Robson (USA), GM Jaan Ehlvest (Estonia), GM Varuzhan Akobian (Armenia), GM Tamaz  Gelashvili (Georgia), GM Victor Mikhalevski (Israel), GM Enrico Sevillano (Philippines)

FILIPINO Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So beat Georgian GM Tamaz  Gelashvili to share the lead in the fifth round of the National Open Championship dubbed as Las Vegas International Chess Festival 2013 at the  Riviera Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

So hiked his total to 4.5 points, the same output of GM Alejandro Ramirez of Costa Rica and GM Manuel Leon Hoyos of Mexico.Ramirez  toppled GM Ruben Felgaer of Argentina while Hoyos subdued defending champion GM Aleksandr Lenderman of the United States.

Another Filipino entry GM Enrico Sevillano crushed GM Conrad Holt of the United States to scored 4.0 points and create a six-way tie for fourth place that includes Gelashvili, GM Ray Robson of the USA, GM Jaan Ehlvest of Estonia, GM Varuzhan Akobian of Armenia and GM Victor Mikhalevski of Israel.