So edges Shabalov, regains share of lead in US tiff

MANILA, Philippines – Grandmaster Wesley So downed GM Alexander Shabalov in just 23 moves of a Slav Defense to regain a share of the lead with GM Fabiano Caruana after the seventh round of the US Chess Championship at the  Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis Thursday night.

After splitting the point with nemesis GM Hikaru Nakamura the round before, So, playing black, pounced on an opening blunder by Shabalov to snatch the win that put him back on top alongside Caruana with 5.5 points apiece.

When the end came, Shabalov lost the exchange and in bad positional condition.

Caruana couldn't extract a full point against unheralded Jeffery Xiong and just settled for a 44-move draw of a Ruy Lopez game that allowed So to catch up on the former at the helm four rounds to go.

The win helped the Cavite-born So from No. 8 in the world to No. 7 with a live rating of 2782.

He could seize the solo lead and move up even further if he could hurdle his eighth round foe in GM Alexander Onischuk, who is tied for No. 5 with Xiong with four points apiece.

Interestingly, Caruana next faces a tougher opponent in GM Ray Robson, who was just half a point off the pace with five points.

So is seeking his first ever US championship since leaving the Philippines and deciding to represent the US a few years back.