source: Marlon Bernardino | abs-cbnnews.com
Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So continued his winning ways in the ongoing 2011 Tata Steel Corus Group B chess championship at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.
His latest victory was against GM David Navara of Czech Republic last Saturday (Sundayin Manila).
Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So continued his winning ways in the ongoing 2011 Tata Steel Corus Group B chess championship at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.
His latest victory was against GM David Navara of Czech Republic last Saturday (Sundayin Manila).
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. said the 17-year-old prize fighter of NCFP has beaten Navara in 34 moves of Gruenfeld defense using the advantageous white pieces in Round 7.
"Nag mature na masyado ang laro ni Wesley. We (NCFP) hope na magpatuloy ang winning streak niya sa mga susunod na round," Pichay said.
The game ended with So’s 5 pawns, a queen, a rook and a knight against against Navara's six pawns, a queen, and a rook in this B Group of players, 14-player, category-17 tournament, formerly known as Hoogovens.
In his third straight win, So created a 3-way tie for the lead with overnight solo leader GM Luke McShane of England and GM Zahar Efimenko of Ukraine.
Meantime, McShane failed to retain his over-all leadership board after losing to GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam after 46 moves of King's Indian defense, while Efimenko settled a truce with GM Li Chao of China after 30 moves of Petroff defense.
In Sunday's 8th round, So will play the disadvantageous black pieces against GM Wouter Spoelman of the Netherlands.
In Group A category, GM Hikaru Nakamura of the United States defeated GM Alexander Grishuk of Russia after 42 moves of Nimzo Indian defense to remain on top with 5.5 points.
On the other hand, IM Ilya Nyzhnyk of Ukraine led the way in Group C with similar 5.5 points, while Nyzhnyk upset GM Sebastian Siebrecht of Germany after 34 moves of Benko Gambit.
Individual standings after round 7:
* 5 points – GM So (Philippines), GM Efimenko (Ukraine), GM Mcshane (England)
* 4.5 points – GM Gabriel Sargissian (Armenia)
* 4 points – GM Radek Wojtaszek (Poland)
* 3.5 points – GM Li (China), GM Le (Vietnam), GM Navara (Czech Republic), GM Vlad Tkachiev (France)
* 3 points – GM Laurant Fressinet (France)
* 2.5 points – GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (India)
* 2 points – GM Jon Ludvig Hammer (Norway),GM Friso Nijoboer (Netherlands), GM Spoelman (Netherlands)
– By Marlon Bernardino
