MANILA, Philippines – Grandmaster Wesley So forced a 38-move draw via perpetual check against Azeri GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in their Guioco Piano encounter to remain one points off the pace after eight rounds of the Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands Sunday night.
It was the seventh straight draw for So after beating Dutch GM Anish Giri in the opening round to stay in joint third with Giri and Chinese GM Ding Liren at 4.5 points.
Top seed and reigning world champion GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway snatched the solo lead at 5.5 points after halving the point with Russian GM Sergey Karjakin in 31 moves of a Ruy Lopez.
GM Fabiano Caruana, who will be with So in the US squad for this year’s Olympiad, fell from a share of first to solo second after bowing to Czech GM David Navara in 55 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defense.