GM SO TIES FOR 4TH AT CORUS B, NEXT STOP IS AEROFLOT OPEN

( WGM Anna Muzychuk in Corus B action. Photo by Mr. Reginald Tee. )


GM Wesley So settled for a draw in his thirteenth and final round game against WGM Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia in the Corus B Tournament in the Netherlands to finish with 7.5 pts and a tie for 4th place wih GM L'Ami of the Netherlands.

GM So who was playing white, nursed an advantage in the middle game in a Nimzoindian defense when his beautiful opponent sacrificed a a pawn in the opening. However, WGM Anna Muzychuk who is rank 7th in women's chess with a FIDE rating of 2532 as compared to GM So's 2656 proved equal to the task and counter-attacked tenaciously, forcing GM So to settle for a draw via perpetual check.

Next stop for GM Wesley So is the Aeroflot Open in Russia which will start on February 8, 2010. GM's Antonio and Laylo are also scheduled to participate in the said tourney.

Final Standing- Group B
1. A. Giri 9
2. A. Naiditsch 8½
3. Ni 8
4. W. So
E. l'Ami 7½
6. P. Negi
P. Harikrishna 6½
8. E. Sutovsky
D. Howell 6
10. A. Muzychuk
L. Nisipeanu 5½
12. T. Nyback
D. Reinderman 5
14. V. Akobian 4½