So continues bid for first US title

MANILA, Philippines – Grandmaster Wesley So continues his search for his first ever title in the United States Chess Championship when he clashes with defending champion GM Hikaru Nakamura in the sixth round at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in St Louis.

So, playing his second US Open after changing federations three years ago, destroyed GM Varuzhan Akobian's French Defense in just 24 moves to join Fabiano Caruana at the helm with four points apiece.

It was a sweet victory for So, who lost to Akobian last year when the former's game was forfeited for writing on his score sheet.

It also sent So from No. 10 in the world to No. 8 with a live rating of 2779.8.

After taking a much-needed one-day break, the 11-round tournament, which stakes $50,000 to the champion, resumed last night with So battling defending champion and four-time winner GM Hikaru Nakamura at press time.

Nakamura bounced back from a painful defeat to Caruana in the fourth round by defeating GM Samuel Shankland in the fifth round to move in a three-way logjam at fourth spot with Jeffrey Xiong and Alexander Onischuk with three points each.

GM Ray Robson was at solo No. 3 with 3.5 points.