Wesley So forfeited at US Chess Championship

MANILA, Philippines – Wesley So’s misfortunes at the U.S. Chess Championship continue to pile one on top of the other as he was forfeited by the chief arbiter in the ninth round for writing things on a separate scoresheet aside from his moves. 

Chief arbiter Tony Rich said he forfeited So after six moves of his game against Varuzan Akobian. So, wearing a dark jacket, left the hall stunned as shown in the live streaming coverage. 

“He had been warned in the previous rounds for doing that and his opponent brought it to my attention,” Rich told Maurice Ashley, one of the panelists. 

So belongs to the world’s top ten chess players ranked by the World Chess Federation with the French acronym FIDE. 

Akobian said he was disturbed by what So had been doing and went to the arbiter to complain.  

“He was probably writing things to encourage himself, but it disturbed me.” said Akobian.

Another panelist, Alejandro Ramirez, said he noticed So doing this in the Millionaire’s Open which So won last year but he was not penalized.  

“I am shocked. In all my years in chess, this is the first time I had witnessed this,” said the main panelist, Yasser Seirawan. 

So had lost the previous round, his third in this tournament going into Saturday’s round. He can appeal the decision but as this is being written, he has not made an appeal. 

He is tied for third with 4.5 points. – Rappler.com