So holds Ukrainian to 85-move draw in Capablanca Memorial 2014

MANILA, Philippines – Wesley So engaged former World Challenger Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine to a fierce endgame battle before ending up agreeing to a marathon 85-move draw in their super-sharp Sicilian duel to share the lead with two others after four rounds in the Capablanca Memorial 2014 at the Habana Riviera in La Havana, Cuba Monday.

So, 20, seized the initiative in the middlegame when he managed to end up with a passed pawn on the c-file in a same-colored bishop ending. After a series of exchanges, he emerged a pawn up but Ivanchuk, who lost to countryman Ruslan Ponomariov in the 2002 World Championship match, found a way to draw.

After four rounds, So now has 2.5 points, sharing the top spot with Hungarian Zoltan Almasi, who halved the point with Cuban Lazaro Batista Bruzon, and top seed Leinier Dominguez Perez, who trounced Spanish Francico Vallejo Pons.

So drew his first game with Bruzon, turned back Vallejo Pons in the second round, split the point with Dominguez Perez, the highest ranked playter here at No. 10 in the world with 2768 rating, before coming with another deadlock against Ivanchuk.

So, part of the Webster U team that topped the Pan American games, is seeking to do good here in this six-player, double-round robin tournament and gain rating points that would catapult him inside the elite Top 10.