So settles for another draw

MANILA, Philippines - Wesley So drew with Polish Radoslaw Wojtaszek in 40 moves of a Queen’s Pawn duel to remain in the cellar after three rounds of the Shamkir Chess-Gashimov Memorial 2017 in Azerbaijan Sunday.

So sacrificed two pawns to launch a kingside attack but Wojtaszek forced an exchange of queens, minor pieces and pawns to simplify things up and score half-a-point.

With one point, So and Wojtaszek remain at the bottom of the elite field with Russian Sergey Karjakin, Azeri Teimour Radjabov and Indian Pentala Harikrishna.

Azari Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who stunned So in the opening round, downed second round leader Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine in 66 moves of a King’s Indian to seize the solo lead with 2.5 points.

Veselin Topalov, Eljanov and Englishman Michael Adams are in joint second with two points while Russian Vladimir Kramnik has 1.5 points for fifth.