So crushes Canadian IM, stays unbeaten

MANILA, Philippines – Wesley So smashed Canadian International Master Raja Panjwani in 23 moves of an Irregular Opening to remain unscathed along with former World Challenger Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine after three rounds of the ninth Edmonton Chess Festival in Canada Tuesday.

So, 20, sacrificed a rook to launch a mating net that succeeded as he came one move closer from checkmating Panjwani, who resigned after realizing the inevitable, allowing the Webster U hotshot to remain at the helm with three points.

The second-seeded Ivanchuk stuck with So, who zoomed to 15th in the world after topping the Capablanca Memorial a few weeks back in Cuba, after bashing Canadian Alex Yam in 35 moves of an English Opening.

So's first two wins came at the expense of yet another Canadian Richard Wang and American GM Samuel Shankland.

This is So's first tournament since he made known his intention of switching federations although the National Chess Federation of the Phl insisted  he still part of the country's team joining the World Chess Olympiad set Aug. 1-15 in Tromso, Norway.

He will join the team composed of US-based GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and Oliver Barbosa and two more players who will emerge victorious in the ongoing Battle of Grandmasters in Manila.

After five rounds, youthful IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia shocked GM Joey Antonio in 48 moves of a Berlin game to seize the solo lead 12 points, a full point ahead of vintage Eugene Torre, who gained a stalemate after he was at the winning end of a 39-move draw in a Slav duel with Joel Pimentel.

Tournament sensation Janelle Mae Frayna blundered away a winning game and settled for a 44-move draw in an English Opening with GM Banjo Barcenilla.

The 18-year-old Far Eastern U standout fell into a three-way tie for third with newly minted IM Paulo Bersamina and GM John Paul Gomez with 10.5 points apiece.