Another draw pushes So-Karjakin duel to rapid play

GM Wesley So of the Philippines settled for another hard-fought draw against topseed Russian GM Sergey Karjakin late Thursday in Game Two of their two-game standard play duel in the 2011 World Chess Cup at the Ugra Cultural Center in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

The draw came after Karjakin’s 35. Ne5 which resulted in an equal position where both players had two rooks, a knight and five pawns each.

So’s last move followed an exchange of queens after the first time control of the Nimzo-Indian defense skirmish.

Last Wednesday, the black-playing So also split the point with Karjakin after 31 moves of French defense, Steinitz variation.

The stalemate in their standard play games means the 17-year-old So of Bacoor, Cavite and Karjakin will battle in another two-game duel this time in rapid playoff.

The winner faces a potential third round blockbuster against Hungarian GM Judith Polgar who ousted Armenian GM Sergei Movsesian, 1.5-.5.

“Surely an interesting rapid playoff between the two young talents is expected tomorrow if So wins,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman/ president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., who is watching the tournament live through the internet.

Last Tuesday, So defeated reigning Chinese national open champion GM Ding Liren, 2.5-1.5 while Karjakin walloped IM Mejdi Kaabi of Tunisia (ELO 2344), 2-0 in their standard competition match-up.

CARLSEN KEEPS TOP RANKING

Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen of Norway (ELO 2823) remains on top of the world’s Top 100 chess players based on the latest rankings released by the governing body World Chess Federation (FIDE).

The other Top Five players are No. 2 GM Viswanathan Anand of India (ELO 2817), No. 3 GM Leon Aronian of Armenia (ELO 2807), No. 4 GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia (ELO 2791) and No. 5 Karjakin (ELO 2772).

GM So is the highest Filipino in the list at No. 90 with an ELO rating of 2655.