Wesley, Brazilian draw in 21 moves

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Wesley So settled for a quick draw with GM Alexander Fier of Brazil at the start of the Aeroflot Open chess championships at the Hotel Gamma-Delta in Moscow last Tuesday.

So decided not to take any risk with the black and agreed to split the point with the lower-rated Fier after only 21 moves of Catalan Opening.

Analysts said the draw was good enough for the 17-year-old Filipino champion, who was a bit uncomfortable with an inactive queen on a7 and a bad bishop on b7.

So, seeded only 15th here, will next meet GM Anton Shomoev of Russia in the second of the nine-round Swiss system tournament.

Shomoev also drew with No. 21 GM Boris Grachev of Russia.

Four other Filipino campaigners – GM John Paul Gomez, GM DarwinLaylo, IM Richard Bitoon and IM Oliver Dimakiling – hurdled their opening round matches in Group B.

Gomez defeated GM Arseny Alavkin of Russia, Laylo outclassed IM Anatoly Kremenietsky of Russia, Bitoon whipped WIM Viktoriya Tarasova of Russia and Dimakiling dumped Antoine Berube of Canada.

Moscow Open joint runner-up IM Oliver Barbosa, however, was held to a draw by untitled Roman Oganisin of Russia.