Moves to fourth round

MANILA -- Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So continued his sensational run in the 2009 World Chess Cup by eliminating defending champion and super GM Gata Kamsky at the Khanty-Mansiysk Festival of Arts in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

The 16-year-old chess whiz advanced to the fourth round of the chess tilt after getting a draw in the second of his two-game match against Kamsky.

The World Chess Cup 2009 is a qualifier for the Candidates' Tournament of the World Chess Championship in 2011.

The official scores in the third round encounter is 1.5-05 as So (ELO 2640) blocked the defending champion’s advances in 42 moves of the English opening.

So, who displayed nerves of steel in facing World Chess Championship candidate Kamsky, will face the winner of the match between GM Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine and GM Vladimir Malakhov of Russia.

Kamsky (ELO 2695) was the latest chess giant toppled by So in the tournament that has drawn some of the best chess players in the world.

So eliminated World No.12 Super GM Vassily Ivanchuk (ELO 2739) in Round 2 of the tournament after disposing of GM Gadir Guseinov in Round 1.

Wesley’s future plans

Before beating Kamsky, So was quoted in an interview by the World Chess Cup official website that he dreams of reaching ELO 2700.

"I am 16 and the greatest achievement for me so far is the second place in one tournament with average rating about 2700. At the moment my rating is 2640. I dream that sooner or later I will come to the magical point 2700. I don't know how much time I will need for that," he said.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. congratulated So for his stunning upset win over Kamsky, and urged the Filipino champion to “continue to play well and bring honors to the country.”

"At this point Wesley has the momentum. He might just sweep the World Cup to become champion. Wesley is a sensation and have made us Filipinos proud," said Pichay.  With a report from National Master Marlon Bernardino