Filipino teenage chess genius Super Grandmaster Wesley So (2640) emerged victorious against GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan in the scheduled three Rapid (25 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move) tiebreak games in the World Chess Cup in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia to move to the next round.

Earlier, the two players tied the match with a 1–all count in the regular time control to force a three game rapid play off.

With a 4-1 victory over Guseinov, So will face world’s number 12 top player GM Vassily Ivanchuk (2739) of Ukraine, who brought downed GM Alexei Bezgodov of Russia, 2-0.

So and Ivanchuk have already won US$ 10,000 each as guaranteed purse for making it to the second round.

International Master (IM) Marlon Bernardino in a brief report said the pressure is on Ivanchuk in the next round.

“He is the heavy favorite and Wesley has nothing to lose. He just has to play his game with no fear,” said GM Susan Polgar in an on-line website.

However, compatriot GM Darwin Laylo (2552) yielded to GM David Navara (2707) of Czech Republic, 4-2, to follow compatriot GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (2574), to the exit door.

The 12-time national open champion Antonio bowed to defending world chess cup champion Gata Kamsky (2695) of the United States, 0.5-1.5.

Laylo and Antonio didn’t go home empty-handed; they were paid a consolation prize of US$ 6,000 each.

Meanwhile, Ivanchuk’s typical inconsistency is certainly reflected in his world cup record.

In 1997, Ivanchuk was knocked out in round 2 by Seirawan; 1999: knocked out in round 4 by Nisipeanu in 2000; knocked out in round 2 by Elvhest in 2002; lost the final match against Ponomariov in 2004; knocked out in round 3 by Kasimdzhanov in 2005; knocked out in round 2 by Cheparinov in 2007; and knocked out in round 3 by Nisipeanu in the same year. (PNA)
LDV/LOR