Wesley So joins four-man lead pack in Paris chess tourney

United States champion Wesley So bested Hungarian No. 1 Richard Rapport in the second round and drew the first and third to join a four-man lead pack in the Paris Rapid and Blitz Friday, June 18 (Saturday, June 19, Manila time).

Also with 4 points, a win is worth 2 points and a draw 1, like So are world title challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, and Peter Svidler.

So agreed to a draw with birthday celebrator Alireza Firouzja in the opener and settled for a truce with Svidler in the third to match the record of Nepomniachtchi, who prevailed over French wild card Etienne Bacrot and drew with world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana and Rapport.

Aronian trounced Bacrot in round 3 following draws with Teimour Radjabov and Caruana.

Svidler subdued Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the event’s 2019 winner, drew with Firouza, who turned 18, in round 2.

Bunched at 3 points were Radjabov, Caruana, and Vachier-Lagrave. Firouzja and Bacrot have 2 points each while Rapport occupied the cellar at 1 point.

Rounds 4 to 6 of the $150,000 event serving as the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour are set Saturday night.

Pitted against So are Nepomniachtchi, winner of this year’s Candidates Tournament, Airthings Master champion Radjabov, and Aronian in that order.

Aronian, joint second with So in the recent Superbet Chess Classic, will also tackle Rapport and Vachier-Lagrave in rounds 4 and 5.

Though ranked only seventh in the rapid portion, the Bacoor, Cavite-born So is among the favorites for the $37,500 top purse having won two events – Skilling Open and Opera Euro Rapid – and trailing only world champion Magnus Carlsen in the overall standing of the Champions Chess Tour. – Rappler.com