Sensational Wesley

BY: BOBBY ANG
(Abridged version, as published in Chess Piece, BusinessWorld, December 4, 2009)

The FIDE World Chess Cup is taking place in the oil-boom town of Khanty-Mansiysk, in that general part of Russia we usually refer to as Siberia, from Nov. 20 up to Dec. 15, 2009. It is a seven-round knockout event comprising of 128 players with six rounds of matches comprising two games per round, with the winners progressing to the next round. The final seventh round consists of four games. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move from move one. Aside from the huge cash prizes, the winner of the World Chess Cup automatically qualifies for the Candidates’ match-tournament, from which the challenger to the world championship title will come from.

While the knockout format of the World Cup has been endlessly criticized in the chess media, the truth is that only the top-echelon players are complaining -- most of the chess world love the World Cup, as it gives the lesser-known players a chance to make a name for themselves as well as earn some good money.

In the 1999 FIDE World Championship (this became the World Cup later), Alexander Khalifman gave his career a second lease on life by winning all the marbles, and the appearance of new names Vladimir Akopian, Sergei Movsesian, and Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (who upset two of the top seeds Ivanchuk and Shirov) were the big stories.

Next year was the turn of the unknown Alexander Grischuk to breakthrough into the world consciousness with a fantastic series of games to reach the semifinals.

This year, the sensation of the tournament is a Filipino, 16-year-old Wesley So. So sit tight and let me tell you the story from the very beginning, starting with Wesley’s first round match-up against GM Gadir Gusienov of Azerbaijan, rated 2625, just a tad lower than the Filipino’s 2640.

Gadir is certainly no pushover. He was born in 1986 and became a member of the Azerbaijan national team in 2002, participating in all of his country’s Olympiad or European Championship teams. His blitz rating of 3286 (!) in the Internet Chess Club also makes him among the top blitz practitioners of the world.

Game 1 was a one-sided positional crush by Wesley, who got an opening edge and did not let his opponent off the hook.

So, Wesley (2640) vs Guseinov, Gadir (2625) [E90]
World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (1.1), 21.11.2009 ANNOTATED GAME (JAVA REQUIRED)





Guseinov threw caution to the winds in game 2 and managed to cash in when Wesley erred just before reaching the time control at move 40.

Guseinov, Gadir (2625) vs So, Wesley (2640) [C07]
World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (1.2), 22.11.2009 ANNOTATED GAME (JAVA REQUIRED)





As per the rules of the competition, in case the match is tied after two regular games, then four tie-break games will be played, with a time control of 25 minutes for each player with an addition of 10 seconds after each move.

In the first tie-break game Wesley once again essayed the French Defense, but this time quickly took the initiative in a queenless endgame and completely outclassed Guseinov.

The second game was even more one-sided. Wesley met Guseinov’s Pirc with the Austrian Attack and just made it look like a forced win.

After this second consecutive win Wesley needed only a draw to qualify for the next round. Instead a furious counter-attack decided the match in his favor for a clean 3-0 sweep.

Guseinov, Gadir (2625) vs So, Wesley (2640) [B47]
World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (1.5), 23.11.2009 ANNOTATED GAME (JAVA REQUIRED)





Next we will discuss Wesley’s match with chess legend Vassily Ivanchuk. Beg, borrow or steal, but make sure to get your copy of BusinessWorld on Monday!