Unbeaten So wrests solo lead

Grandmaster Wesley So outwitted Fide Master A.R. Saleh Salem of the UAE in their Sicilian-Pelikan game and essayed a 50-move victory to seize the solo lead after five rounds of the 10th Dubai International Open in the United Arab Emirates Thursday.

The Filipino GM veered from the well-known booklines of the Sicilian-Pelikan early on and stormed his rival’s defense with his Queen, rook, knight and bishop, sacrificing pieces in the process to expose black’s king.

Salem lost his composure in the face of So’s relentless attack and failed to come up with the right moves before giving up after the 50th.

It was the 14-year-old So’s fifth straight victory, netting him the solo lead halfway through the event offering a top purse of $6,000.

The Bacoor, Cavite native is half-a-point ahead of GM Merab of Georgia, his opponent in the sixth round.

Thirteen players, led by second seed GM Tamash Gelashvili and fourth seed GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran share third place with four points.

But while So continued to shine, GM-candidate Julio Catalino Sadorra bowed to sixth seed David Arutinian of Georgia, his first in five games.

Sadorra, hoping to become the country’s next GM, was stalled with three points, on two wins, two draws and a loss. He faces E. Momeni of Iran in round 6.