Wesley primes up for Corus tourney

MANILA, Philippines - GM Wesley So exudes confidence as he leaves today for the Netherlands to compete in the Corus International Chess Championship which starts Jan. 15 at the De Moriaan Community Centre in Wijk aan Zee.

“I’m ready. It’s a big challenge for me, but I will do my best,” said So, who topped Group C last year and will see action in Group B this time.

So, who vaulted to No. 76 in the world after a solid campaign in 2009, will bring in a 2656 rating in the event, a Category 16 tournament where he hopes to contend for the crown with his skills and talent.

“I know most of the players in Group B. They are all good and talented,” said So, who is coming off a Last 16 finish in the World Chess Cup in Russia late last year.

“But I have prepared hard for this tournament since the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk,” said So during a meeting with mediamen during the party hosted by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/chairman Butch Pichay at Syncopado’s in Ermita, Manila recently.

So, 16, is seeded sixth in the 14-player field that includes GMs Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany, Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania and Pentala Harikrishna of India.

Naiditsch, the Latvian-born German player, is the top seed with a 2689 rating.

Nisipeanu is ranked second with 2677 followed by Harikrishna with 2672, GM Emil Sutovsky of Israel with 2666, Ni Hua of China with 2665, Tomi Nyback of Finland with 2628, Varuzhan Akobian of the US with 2624, Parimarjan Negi of India with 2620 and Erwin l’ Ami of Netherlands with 2606 in that order.

“Let’s hope and pray Wesley will continue to play well and again bring honor to the country this year,” said Pichay.

NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino also exhorted So “to keep up the good work and continue his amazing performance on the world stage.”