Wesley So overtakes Carlsen in rapid play

Wesley So won his last two games then watched Magnus Carlsen got stunned by Alexander Grischuk to grab the lead after the first section of the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz tournament on Friday, September 18.

Following a draw with Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi in the seventh round, the Filipino-born So struck with victories over Armenian Levon Aronian and Indian Pentala Harikrishna to raise his total to 13 points out of a perfect 18 points in the blitz section, which rewards 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.

Grischuk, Russia’s No. 2 behind Nepomniachtchi, was ahead in material (2 rooks and 1 bishop against 1 rook, 1 bishop and 1 knight), and will gobble up a pawn when Carlsen, the longtime Norwegian world champion, resigned in the ninth round.

Carlsen’s second loss following a disconnection to Nepomniachtchi in round 2 left the world No. 1 at second spot with 12 points.

Nepomniachtchi and Grischuk, who powered Russia to a share of the Online Chess Olympiad title with India last month, shared third place with 10 points each.

Like So, now representing Team USA, Grischuk gained 5 points with a victory over the United States’ Leiner Dominguez Perez and a draw with Iranian teen sensation Alireza Firouzja in the eighth.

Bunched at 9 points were Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura of the US, and Harikrishna.

Play shifts to blitz when the $250,000 (P12.5 million) event resumes on Saturday with So taking on fellow Team USA member Jeffery Xiong in the first round. Carlsen and Nakamura collide in another awaited encounter of the round-robin competition.

There will be another blitz round-robin on Sunday to determine who’ll pocket the $50,000 (P2.5 million) top purse.

Blitz wins are worth 1 point each and draws half a point. – Rappler.com