So boosts Asian chess bid

SUBIC, Philippines – GM Wesley So bounced back from a series of draws by trouncing GM Elshan Moradiabadi of Iran in 33 moves of the Ruy Lopez to revive his bid in the ninth round of the Asian Chess Championships at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center here last night.

The 15-year-old So pounced on Moradiabadi’s blunder on the 26th – a queen push to h4 – to turn a complicated middle game position into a resounding victory. The Filipino whiz threatened to mate Moradiabadi’s king with either his queen on g8 or his knight on d6 when the Iranian resigned.

So thus hiked his total to six points, half-a-point behind joint leaders GMs Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India and Weiqi Zhou of China, who both have 6.5 points with two rounds left in the event.

Ganguly and Weiqi drew their match in 39 moves of the Sicilian. GM Joey Antonio, who tied for the lead in the previous round with six points, was still playing GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam at presstime.