So advances in World Chess Cup

Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So crushed GM Ding Liren of China, 2.5-1.5 yesterday to advance to the second round of the 2011 World Chess Cup at the Ugra Cultural Center in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

So (ELO 2658), one of the most popular young players here, beat Liren (ELO 2654) in the first game of their rapid playoff after 46 moves of King’s Indian defense, Saemish variation using black. The draw in the second match was all that the 17-year-old Filipino sensation needed to eliminate Liren, the reigning two-time China National Open champion.

So will next meet top seed GM Sergey Karjakin of Russia (ELO 2788), who ousted IM Mejdi Kaabi of Tunisia (ELO 2344.

Wesley and Liren earlier split their two-game standard play late Monday.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., expressed elation over So’s victory.

“It’s a good start, hope mahawakan ni GM Wesley ang momentum. Mabigat talaga si GM Sergey (Karjakin) pero kumpiyansa ako na bibigyan siya ng magandang laban ni Wesley.”

Last year, Wesley ousted former world championship candidates GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, 1.5-.5 in the second round and American GM Gata Kamsky, 1.5-.5 in the third round to march to the quarterfinals.

His Cinderella run however, was ended by  GM Vladimir Malakhov of Russia, 4-1 in rapid tiebreak.

Meanwhile, another Filipino entry GM Mark Paragua (ELO 2545) bowed out of the 128-player, knockout-style event organized by FIDE (World Chess Federation) late Monday.

Paragua bowed to GM Michael Adams (ELO 2715) of England, 0.5-1.5, in their two-game standard play in the tournament which offers  a total cash prize of $1.6 million.

So and Paragua’s campaign is backed by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).