TAGAYTAY CITY -- Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So settled for a draw versus second-seed GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam in the fourth round of the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championship at the Tagaytay International Convention Center on Thursday.

The Bacoor, Cavite native agreed to split the point after 44 moves of Neo-Gruenfeld defense using the black pieces to tally 3.5 points after four rounds of play.

"Mabuti naka draw pa tayo. Masyadong mahirap ang laro saka slight advantage si Nguyen," said the 19-year-old So, who took a break from his studies at Webster University in the US to compete in the event hosted by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. and the city council.

The nine round tournament offers two slots for this year's World Chess Cup in Tromso, Norway. GM Oliver Barbosa is the only Filipino currently guaranteed a seat in the Cup.

So will next face Mongolian GM-elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa in the fifth round.

"Go for win po tayo sa Mongolian na si Gundavaa lalu na't white pieces tayo,” he said.

Tolentino is confident that So can go past Gundavaa.
"Inaasahan natin mananalo si Wesley kay Gundavaa. Limang beses na silang nagkatapat at apat dun ay nagwagi si Wesley," he said.—By Marlon Bernardino