Title chances dim for So

Standings after five rounds:

4.0 pts — GM Fabiano Caruana (2714/ Italy)

3.5 pts — GM Viktor Laznicka (2681/Czech Republic)

3.0 pts — GM Krishnan Sasikiran (2676/India)

2.5 pts — GM Wesley Barbasa So (2667/Philippines)

1.5 pts — GM Parimarjan Negi (2622/India)

0.5 pts — GM Hou Yifan (2612/China)

FILIPINO Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So (Elo 2667) settled for another hard-fought draw on Sunday in the 5th round and dropped to fourth overall in the AAI (Airports Authority of India) Grandmasters Chess Tournament in New Delhi, India.

So drew with GM Hou Yifan (Elo 2612) of China after 53 moves of Vienna Opening to pad his tally to 2.5 points with one round left in the invitational tournament.

Meanwhile, GM Fabiano Caruana (Elo 2714) of Italy settled for a truce with GM Viktor Laznicka (Elo 2681) of Czech Republic to remain on top with 4.0 points. Laznicka, on the other hand, remained at second place with 3.5 points.

GM Krishnan Sasikiran (Elo 2676) defeated countryman GM Parimarjan Negi (Elo 2622) of India after 56 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening to climb to solo third place 3.0 points.

In Tuesday’s sixth round, So meets Sasikiran, Caruana battles Negi and Laznicka tackles Hou in the Category 17 chess tournament  organized by the All India Chess Federation and sanctioned

by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).  A total of $24,500 cash prize is at stake with a champion’s purse of $8,000 and a consolation prize of $6,000  to the runner-up.  /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino