So bounces back with third round win

SUBIC, Philippines – GM Wesley So redeemed himself from a stunning second-round setback, whipping No. 58 seed Xu Deshun of China to stay in contention in the eighth Asian Continental individual chess championship at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center here late Friday.

Stung by a surprise loss to GM Yu Shaoteng of China in the second round Thursday, So wasted no time in beating his lower-rated Chinese opponent as he bounced back into contention in this $50,000-tournament hosted by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

The win, his second in three rounds, enabled the 15-year-old So to move into a heavy 21-player tie for 12th to 32nd places with two points, a full point behind solo leader GM Chanda Sandipan of India and half a point behind 10 other players.

“Medyo nakabawi. There are still eight more rounds left, so I still have enough time to catch up,” said So, the “Chess Player of the Year” awardee of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) last year.

So, who is seeded second here behind GM Krishnan Sasikiran of India with an ELO of 2641, will next play GM Saidali Iuldachev of Uzbekistan.Sandipan, one of 12 Indian players vying in this prestigious competition, subdued GM Elhsan Moradiabadi of Iran in 35 moves to grab the solo lead. with a perfect score of three points.

Sasikiran settled for a draw with GM Li Shilong Of China, as did GM Surya Ganguly of India against GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam and GM John Paul Gomez of the Philippines against GM Abhijeet Gupta of India.

The six players now have 2.5 points, the same score of GMs Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, GM Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh, GM Tu Hoang Thong of Vietnam and IM Richard Bitoon of the Philippines.

Le humbled Yu, Rahman bested Homayoon Toufighi of Iran and Tu whipped FM Anjas Novita of Indonesia.

Bitoon subdued GM Mark Paragua in an all-Filipino showdown.

Sharing the limelight were 2008 Subic Open champion GM Jayson Gonzales, who pulled the rug from under third seed GM Zhou Jianchao of China, and IM Oliver Dimakiling, who toppled No. 18 GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia.

Gonzales, the hero in the Philippines’ final-round triumph over Argentina in the 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, lost to Sasikiran in the first round but won over compatriot David Elorta the following round.

Dimakiling, one of several Filipino IMs seeking the elusive GM titles, drew his first two matches against GM Mohammad Al-Modiahki of Qatar and Zhoeu Weiqi of China.

Tied with So, Gonzales and Dimakiling with two points are GMs Eugene Torre and Rogelio Antonio Jr. and IM Rolando Nolte all of the Philippines; Kunte, Dronavalli Hairka, Parimarjan Negi and Chakkravarthy Deepan of India; GMs Yu Shaoteng, Zhou Weiqi and Hou Yifan and Yu Yangyi and Gao Rui of China, GM Morteza Mahjoob of Iran, IM Sadikin Irwanto of Indonesia, FM Jaesem Alhuwar of United Arab Emirates, Mohammaed Al Sayeb of Qatar, Moradiabadi and Iuldachev,

Torre settled for a draw with Irwanto, Antonio demolished Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam and Nolte outclassed Aaron Chua of Malaysia.

In the womens division, second seed Ju Wenjun of China trounced compatriot WGM Zhang Jilin to keep a share of the lead with two others after three rounds.

No. 3 WGM Mongontuul Bathuyag of Mongolia crushed WHM Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam and No 11 Ghate Swathi of India toppled fellow Indian No 4 Tania Sachdev to share the lead with Ju with perfect three points.

WFMs Cheradee Chardine Camacho and Sherily Cua are the best-placed Filipinas with 1.5 points apiece.

Camacho tronced Sun Fanghui of China while Cua drew with WIM Namisa Muminova of Uzbekistan.

The other Filipina campaigners were not as lucky.

Christy Lamiel Bernales bowed to WIM Atousa Pourkashiyan of Iran, Mikee Chardine Suede lost to Wang Xiachui of China and Rulp Ylem Jose succumbed to WIM Bu Kim Le of Vietnam.

Aices Salvador bested Beverly Mendoza in an all-Filipina showdown.

Tournament director Willie Abalos said the top finishers will receive cash prizes and earn the right to represent Asia in the World Chess Cup scheduled in Khanty-Mansiysk , Russia later this year.