So downs Wei, shares second

MANILA, Philippines — Wesley So downed teenage sensation Wei Yi in 41 moves of an English Opening to move half a point off leader Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan after six rounds of the Tata Chess Steel Masters 2018 in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands Friday.

Playing black, the Cavite-born, Minnetonka, Minnesota-based So was on the receiving end of a vicious attack by the 18-year-old Wei but turned things around when the latter blundered away a winning position.

It was the second straight win by So after trouncing Indian Baskaran Adhiban the round before Wednesday.

More importantly, the victory pushed So in a three-way tie with Dutch Anish Giri and Indian Vishwanathan Anand, who drew with each other, at No. 2 with four points, half a point behind Mamedyarov, who zoomed to the top by trampling Adhiban, with 4.5 points.

So was playing Giri in the seventh round at press time without hopes of further boosting his title chances.

So is using this 13-round tournament as his last stop in preparation for the Candidates tournament set March 10-28 in Berlin, Germany where the champion gains a crack at the title against reigning world titlist Magnus Carlsen.