With two wins, two draws So gains US Championship lead

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Wesley So trounced Alexander Onischuk in 45 moves of an English Opening to wrest the solo lead after four rounds of the US Chess Championship 2017 in St. Louis Saturday night.

So, 23, forced an exchange of rook and two pawns for his rival’s pair of knights to set up a mating attack which the former champion failed to neutralize.

So, gunning for his first ever US Championship crown after changing affiliations a few years ago, chalked up another win after leaving his rival’s king exposed in a corner.

The victory came after So fought his way back from an inferior position to escape with a 45-move draw with defending champion GM Fabiano Caruana Friday.

So, who beat GM Alexander Shabalov in the opening round and drew with GM Samuel Shankland the next round, now has three points, half-a-point ahead of GMs Daniel Naroditsky, four-time titlist Hikaru Nakamura and Yaroslav Zerebukh.

So, who topped the elite Tata Steel Championship recently, will next face Zerebukh.