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Wesly So, a 14 year old Filipino boy is being hailed as the youngest chess grandchampion upon the conclusion of the recent 10th Dubai Open International Chess Championship. The Dubai Open is also dubbed as “The Sheikh Rashed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup“. So is now the youngest winner of the Dubai Open which for this year was participated in by 131 players from 25 countries.

Here’s the full story from Sportsnews.ph:

“The Philippines’ youngest Grandmaster, won on tie-breaks over fellow GMs Gagunashvili Merab of Georgia, Ghaem Maghami Ehsan of Iran and Li Chao of China.

He, however, had to split the $18,000 grand prize with Merab, Ehsan and Li.

So’s conquest came after ending up tied for first place with the others.

He started the conquest with five straight wins before losing to Gagunashvili. He then defeated 19th seed GM Abhijit Gupta of India.

Following the win, he went for a draw with fourth seed GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran (2604). This he did in just 10 moves via an English Opening, thereby resulting in a three-way tie after the eighth and last round.

He then settled for a draw against Li following 18 moves. However, he compensated after Gagunashvili also drew his last match.

Reginald Tee, So’s spokesman and benefactor, said the 14-year-old GM from Bacoor, Cavite will gain 15 ELO rating points following a total performance of 2708.

Top finishers:

1. GM Wesley So 2540 PHI 7.0
2. GM Gagunashvili Merab 2553 GEO 7.0
3. GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan 2604 IRI 7.0
4. GM Li Chao B 2581 CHN 7.0
5. GM Gupta Abhijeet 2521 IND 6.5
6. GM Drozdovskij Yuri 2581 UKR 6.5
7. IM Laxman R R 2488 IND 6.5
8. GM Neverov Valeriy 2568 UKR 6.5
9. GM Arutinian David 2593 GEO 6.5
10. GM Ibrahimov Rasul 2535 AZE 6.5
11. GM Guseinov Gadir 2625 AZE 6.5
12. GM Guliev Sarhan 2487 AZE 6.5

***

According to Wikipedia.org, Wesley So (born October 9, 1993) is a Filipino GM-titled chess player. He achieved the GM title at the age of 14 years, 1 month and 28 days. This puts him as the 7th youngest person to achieve the Grandmaster title in the history of chess.[1] Before becoming a Grandmaster, So had become the youngest Filipino International Master at the age of 12 years and 10 months. The previous youngest Filipino IM had been GM Mark Paragua at 14 years and 8 months.

So was born in Manila in 1993 to William and Eleanor So, who are both accountants. He was aged 6 when his father taught him to play chess and was 9 when he started to compete in junior active chess tournaments where his aggressive style of play caught the attention of former Philippine chess champion IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso. Cardoso said, “The young lad… would sacrifice a queen or any other pieces in his arsenal to get a winning attack.” Also according to Cardoso, So did not have the full sponsorships enjoyed by the other chess prodigies, saying “He cannot afford a decent training given by well known GM-coaches and has to rely on his pure talent, diligence and, of course, the Fritz programs before competing.”

So currently goes to school at St. Francis of Assisi College System in Bacoor, Cavite, a province south of Manila.

Aren’t you proud to be PINOY???

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