Wesley So bags over P5 million despite loss to Magnus Carlsen in CCT Finals

MANILA, Philippines World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen repeated over Wesley So in the second set, 2.5-1.5, on Saturday, December 16 (Sunday, December 17, Manila time) to extend his reign in the Champions Chess Tour Finals at the 1 Hotel in Toronto, Canada.

Carlsen, who beat the Bacoor, Cavite-born So in the first set also by 2.5-1.5 on Friday, clinched the $200,000 (over P11.1 million) top purse and remained king of the event launched in 2020.

If any consolation, So – ranked world No. 6 – bagged the $100,000 (over P5.5 million) runner-up prize for his biggest tournament earning this year.

In addition, Carlsen and So pocketed $1,000 for each match they won.

The result mirrored last year’s 1-2 finish by Carlsen and So, who only took part in the Finals of the CCT circuit then.

Pouncing on the ill-advised decision of So to open again with b3, Carlsen won Game 1 with black in the second set.

So “luckily” salvaged victory with black in the roller-coaster and chaotic Game 2, then held Carlsen to a solid draw in the Nimzo-Indian Game 3.

In Game 4, however, Carlsen precisely broke down So’s defenses to prevent a third set and assert his superiority over the seven other participants of the concluding event of the $2 million (over P111.7 million) 2023 CCT circuit.

So, the three-time United States champion who bested Carlsen in the fifth round of the round-robin stage, surpassed his modest goal of finishing in the top six of the rapid event. – Rappler.com