So drops to 3rd on Black Saturday loss

MANILA, Philippines -- Call it a Black Saturday for Grandmaster Wesley So.

Off to a strong start following two straight victories, So blundered away what appeared like an easy victory and lost a heartbreaking 41-move Slav duel with teenage phenom GM Samuel Sevian to drop out of the lead after three rounds of the US Chess Championships in Saint Louis, Missouri on Friday (Saturday Manila time). 

Hoping to impose his will and intimidate his 14-year-old foe early, the 21-year-old So, seeing action for the first time here since deciding to represent the US, unleashed a vicious kingside attack by giving up his bishop for four pawns while exposing Sevian's king for more onslaught.

But So, who won against GM Daniel Naroditsky Thursday and GM Samuel Shankland Friday, missed the winning line, allowing the devious Sevian to turn the tables on the former and snatch the win.
When the smoke of their tactical battle dissipated, So was left with his harmless rooks and a slow passed pawn against Sevian's consolidated rook, bishop and pair of galloping knights aimed at the Cavite native's vulnerable king.

The devastating defeat shoved So out of the lead and into solo third spot with two points, half a point behind top seed GM Hikaru Nakamura and former Webster University teammate GM Ray Robson with 2.5 points each.

Nakamura fought former US No. 1 GM Gata Kamsky in 60 moves of Torre Attack variation of the Queen's Pawn Game while Robson destroyed GM Conrad Holt in 36 moves of their Gruenfeld battle.

Worse, it sent So sliding back to No. 8 in the world after zooming to No. 5 a couple of days ago.

Sevian, who became GM at the age of 13 years and 10 months or just two months when So obtained his title, for his part, improved to 1.5 points.

So though isn't dampened with the painful defeat.

"Thank you Lord. Disappointments can help us grow stronger," said So in his official Facebook account.

So though will have a chance to spring back to life as he clashes with Nakamura in a much-awaited showdown between the US's highest ranked chessers in today's fourth round.

So will also eye revenge against Nakamura, who humiliated the former in their blitz duel last January.