So scores victory over young GM

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Wesley So scored a crushing victory with the black pieces as he outwitted fellow young sensation GM Saleh Salem of the United Arab Emirates in the second round of the Asian Individual Chess Championships at the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center in Subic yesterday.

Employing the Gruenfeld defense for the first time, the 16-year-old Filipino champion made the most of his newly acquired knowledge of the opening noted for its highly complicated tactical approach and forced the UAE player to resign after 37 moves.

So gave up three major pieces – rook, knight and bishop – in exchange for Saleh’s queen and a commanding advantage in an endgame where his opponent’s king was exposed at center.

“This is my first time to play the Gruenfeld, a fighting line of defense which helps to avoid an early draw,” said So after the tense, four-hour long match watched by a big home crowd.

“It’s really a long struggle and one has to play precisely to keep the momentum. But he made a mistake in the opening,” said So, who also beat Saleh in the 2008 Dubai Open in UAE.

It was So’s second straight win as he shared the early lead with India’s Krishnan Sasikiran, who beat IM Homayoon Toufighi of Iran in their top board encounter.

Other two pointers were GM Yung Yangyi of China, who outclassed IM Kiril Kuderinov of Kazakhstan, and GM Liren Ding of China, who trounced compatriot Yiping Lou.