Wesley So bags P9.2 million, gets Champions Chess Tour distinction

Wesley So may have bowed out of the ongoing Aimchess US Rapid but he is leaving the regular tournaments of the 2021 Champions Chess Tour (CCT) with distinction and lots of cash.

For advancing to the quarterfinals, where he lost to Alireza Firouzja in the blitz playoffs, So became the lone player to make the playoffs in each of the nine CCT legs he joined.

Magnus Carlsen would have been the second bet but the longtime world champion missed the eighth leg – the Chessable Masters – which So won for his third victory in the $1.5 million (P75 million) CCT.

Thus far, So, also the winner of the inaugural Skilling Open and the Opera Euro rapid (third leg), has bagged $184,580 (P9.2 million), trailing only Carlsen, who is in the US Rapid semifinals and is likewise gunning for a third title.

Carlsen was held to a 2-2 draw by Levon Aronian in their first mini-match on Friday, September 3, Philippine time, and so was Firouzja by Vladislav Artemiev.

The Cavite-born So will further increase his earnings as he’s seeded into the $300,000 CCT grand finals slated from September 25 to October 4.

So, the reigning United States champion was even more successful in the 2021 Grand Chess Tour (GCT) where he wound up overall champion.

Having competed in four of five events held, So won the Paris Rapid & Blitz, placed second twice, and landed fourth once to bank $242,500 (P12.1 million), including the $100,000 bonus for being this year’s GCT king. – Rappler.com