GM Wesley So, the pride and joy of Philippine chess, opens his campaign in the 2011 World Cup against GM liren Ding China in the first round is set for August 26 to September 21 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
So just as eager to improve his round of 16 spectacular finish during the 2009 World Cup, will remain as a seed No. 64 in the period of one month, KO style competition that offers a guaranteed cash prizes of US1. 6 million.
The only other Filipino player in the tough, 128-player field -- GM Mark Paragua -- faces an even bigger challenge in GM Alexei Shirov of Spain.
So is confident about his chances again Liren,who defeated him in their only meeting in the 2004 World Under-12 champiosnhips.
“I’ll do my best in the World Cup. Hopefully, I can surpass, if not duplicate my round-of-16 finish two years ago,” So told People’s Tonight.
“It will be a tall order, but I’m confident to bring more honors to our country,” added So, who is set to capture his fourth straight ‘ Battle of GMs” chess championships in Manila this weekend.
The 17-yar-old Filipino champion from Bacoor, Cavite, will easily be one of the players towatch following his surprisingly strong showing in Khanty-Mansiysk two year ago.
So defeated GM Gadir Gusienov of Azerbaijan, 3-1, in the first round and then shocked the world chess hierarchy by pulling the rug from under former world championship candidates GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, 1.5-.5 in the second round and GM Gata Kamsky, 1.5-.5, of the United States in the third round.
So’s near-magical run ended at the hands of GM Vladimir Malakhov of Russia, 4-1, in rapid tiebreak matches in their fourth- round showdown..
So’s round-of-16 finish in 2009 was the best showing by a Filipino in the World Cup, surpassing the achievements of GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Paragua, who reached as far as the second round.
(Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre qualified as far as the quarterfinal stage but in a different world championship elimination format).
In 2009, Antonio bowed to Kamsky, .5-1.5, while GM Darwin Laylo succumbed to GM David Navara of the Czech Republic, 1-2.
Paragua, who earned the right to play in the World Cup after finishing runner-up to GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, will make his third appearance int he world’s most prestigious individual competition.
Paragua qualified for the 2004 World Championship in Tripoli, Libya, but was eliminated by GM Viktor Bologan of Moldova, 1-3, in the first round 1-3.
He also qualified for 2005 World Cup, where he upset GM Sergei Movsesian of Armenia in the first round before narrowly losing in the tie breaker to GM Alexey Dreev of Russia in the second round.
Top seed GM Sergey Karjakin will open his campaign against IM Mejidi Kaabi of Tunisia in the top board.
Ivanchuk, seeded second behind Karjakin with an ELO of 2700, will play FM Robert Henry Steel of South Africa.
Third seed GM Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan will meet Hatim Ibrahim of Egypt, fourth seed GM Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine will battle IM Robert Gwaze of Zimbabwe and fifth seed GM Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan will tackle FM Yasser Quesada of Cuba.
Other top 10 matches will pit GM Alexander Grischuk of Russia against IM Eric Hansen of Canada; GM Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan against IM Vladimir Gemba of Russia; Kamsky against GM Frank de la Paz of Cuba; GM Peter Svidler of Russia against IM Diego Rafael Berandino of Brazil; and GM Dmitry Jakovencko of Russia against GM Darcy Lima of Brazil.
One of the most interesting first-round matches will pit former women’s world champion GM Judit Polgar of Hungary against reigning women’s world champion Hou Yifan of China in an all-female showdown.
Also drawing interest rate corresponds to the onset of pitting GM Wang Hao, China against Iranian GM Ehsan Moradiabadi, GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam against Turkey Ersen Baris GM, GM Michael Adams of England against GM Susanto Mega Hawkshaw Indonesia; pental GM Harikrishna of India against GM Maxim Rodstein Israeli GM Li Chao of China against the GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, Vladimir Akopian of Armenia and GM against the pair Marjan GM Negi of India.
The winner of last year, Boris Gelfand of Israel won the match candidates' and play against the world champion Viswanathan Anand of India GM Chess Championship 2012.