Grandmaster Wesley So turned back Russian Vladislav Artemiev, 2.5-1.5, to stay in the title hunt after three rounds in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Grand Finals Monday.

So banked on a third-match victory – a rollercoaster 85-move duel of a Caro-Kann Defense – to prevail over Artemiev in their four-match encounter. They drew the rest of the three matches.

The third-round triumph hiked So’s tally to 18.5 points for second place behind tournament leader Magnus Carlsen.

The Norwegian world classical champion improved to 23.5 points following a 3.5-2.5 triumph over France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

So will next face fellow United States bet Hikaru Nakamura, who downed Armenia’s Levon Aronian, 3-1.

Other matches saw Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland besting Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, 3.5-2.5; and Anish Giri edging Azerbaijan’s Teimour Radjabov, 3.5-2.5.

Aronian remains in third place with 12 points, followed by Nakamura and Giri, who have 10 and 9.5 points.

Radjabov is at sixth with 9 points, Vachier-Lagrave with 8.5, then Artemiev (5.5), Duda (5) and Mamedyarov (2.5).


Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2021/09/28/wesley-so-edges-russian-foe-trails-carlsen-in-champions-chess-tour-final/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wesley-so-edges-russian-foe-trails-carlsen-in-champions-chess-tour-final)