MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So has lost to Dutch GM Anish Giri in their 11th round match that could potentially decide the winner of the 72nd Corus international chess championship in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.

The 16-year-old So played the King’s Pawn Game (e4) instead of his usual Queen’s Pawn Game (d4) and the 15-year-old Giri responded with the Petroff defense, ending the game in 36 moves.

Giri launched an attack and sacrificed his knight then his bishop to open up lines towards So’s king. So defended well but reportedly seemed to have inaccuracies.

“Nais pasukin ni GM Wesley ang Sicilian defense ni GM Anish (Giri) kaya nag desisyon siyang mag King’s Pawn Game kaysa sa Queen’s Pawn Game. ‘Yun nga lamang wise din si Anish, nag Petroff defense. Mahirap kasi pag pumasok ka sa preparation. Pero maganda ang attitude ni Wesley na go for a win. Hope manalo siya sa last two round,” said his coach, National Master Roberto Suelo Jr.

The loss kept So stuck with 6.5 points on 3 wins and 7 draws. He is currently tied at 3rd place with GM Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany.

Wesley Netherlands trip is backed by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero Pichay, Jr. and Filway Marketing Inc. CEO Hector Tagaysay.

Wesley’s 12th round match on Saturday is against England’s GM David Howell using the black pieces. His 13th and final round match on Sunday will be against woman Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine using the white pieces. – by Marlon Bernardino

Corus Group B Standings after Round 11:
8 points ---GM Anish Giri (Netherlands)
7 points ---GM Erwin L'Ami (Netherlands), GM Ni Hua (China)
6.5 points--- GM Wesley So (Philippines), GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany)
6 points - GM Parimarjan Negi (India)
5.5 points - GM Pentala Harikrishna (India), GM David Howell (England)
5 points - GM Emil Sutovsky (Israel), WGM Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine)
4.5 points - GM Liviu- Dieter Nisipeanu (Romania)
4 points - GM Dimitri Reinderman (Netherlands)
3.5 points - GM Tomi Nyback (Finland)
3 points - GM Varuzhan Akobian (United States)