Wesley So: The Manny Pacquiao of Chess
Posted by cebloggerDec 2
Wesley So is the Manny Pacquiao of Chess! Forgive my frail analogy but I just can’t help but notice this wunderkind from Cavite, Philippines. Who is he? What has he done to deserve our attention and admiration? Latest results show that he is winning games after another at the 2009 World Chess Cup.
Who is Wesley So?
Wesley So, who hails from Bacoor, Cavite, is a 16 year old Filipino chess grandmaster, and currently the Philippines’ highest-ranked player. His current ELO rating of 2640 is the highest so far achieved by a Filipino, beating the 2621 rating of GM Mark Paragua in 2006. Wesley, a chess prodigy, achieved the GM title at the age of 14 years, 1 month and 28 days. That made him the 7th youngest person to achieve the Grandmaster title in the history of chess.
What are his other achievements?
- He is currently ranked 7th highest rated junior (Under-20) in the world.
- He became the youngest Filipino International Master at the age of 12 years and 10 months.
- Winner of the prestigious 2009 Corus chess tournament for the Grandmaster C group.
- In October 2008, he breached the 2600 ELO, and became the youngest player ever to achieve that.
- At age 12 in in 2006, he became the youngest member of the national men’s team to participate at the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy.
- At 13, he also became the youngest Philippine National Open Chess Champion, and the National Junior Open Chess Champion
- He won gold medal on board one at the 2007 World Under 16 Team Championship with a score of 9½/10.
- On April 16, 2008, Wesley So, won the $45,000 Dubai Open Chess Championships. He sets the record as the youngest winner in the 10-year history of the Cup.
- He bagged the Top Junior Prize during Aeroflot 2009.
- He is currently the strongest under-16 player
Why compare him to Manny Pacquiao?
It is because he knocked out other players who are stronger and more popular than him. In 2008, he battled Indonesia’s Number 1 GM Susanto Megaranto in a six-game match on the occasion of the JAPFA Chess Festival. He won 4-2. So also won the top prize in the “Battle of GMs” chess competition, held at the City State Hotel in Manila.
Currently, he is playing at the round 4 of 2009 World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. His notable super GM victims are Vassily Ivanchuk (no. 12, 2739) and Gata Kamsky (no, 41, 2695). The latter is the defending Champion of this tournament. And every chess fan knows who these two players are.
As I followed his winning games against the two at the chessgames.com, I noticed his very aggressive plays, just like the knock-out punches of Manny. Interestingly, he won while handling the black pieces. Ivanchuk and Kamsky may have their excuses why they lost to the younger and lower-rated So, but they will forever remember him.
Why Wesley So and other Philippine Chess Players Needs Support?
Unlike Manny Pacquiao, there aren’t many sponsors for Wesley So. No Nike, no HBO, and no Bob Arum. And there is even no Roach-like coach in his side. In a recent interview posted at the World Chess Cup official website, he said “…Another problem is that chess in not that famous in the Philippines. We don’t get any financial support from the Government. They don’t give money for tournaments, coaches, nothing. Our National Federation pays our tickets. That’s it. You realize at one moment that to reach some professional level you need private sponsors. I would be happy with some 20-30 thousand US dollars a year,”
I remembered that not long ago, the father of another chess prodigy, Mark Paragua, also pleaded for support. Mark had gone a long way then, competing in tournaments after another, and winning even at the turf of the Russians.
This isn’t difficult really. The government, with all its problems, may not be able to extend a helping hand. But maybe, some known sports-loving Corporate-backers can lend their financial support. Look, a 16-year old is making waves at a sport mostly dominated by a European-sounding name! Can’t they see it?
Chess, like boxing, is definitely one sport wherein we Filipinos can excel. And no one will ever be in danger of some brain damage after a match.
(sources: Wikipedia.org and Fide.com)
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I suggest Manny V. Pangilinan bankroll Wesley So. So far, MVP have been supporting gratuitously the Philippine National Basketball Team in preparation for the next Olympics – a dream which is unreachable as it is a waste of time, moeny and effort. So’s campaign in Russia, in the meantime, is quite realistic and very possible.
@pinoyapache, it also crossed my mind. i think right now, it’s butch pichay who’s actively supporting chess players. by the way, So just lost to Malakhov in a series of blitz. Round 4 is good enough.
Hello, I think Manny Pacquiao is a Chess Player himself. I believe he would be more than happy to make a foundation/support the Chess (Athletes) in our country. If the government can’t look on to this I believe our Hero Manny Pacquiao is more than open to this kind of proposition. May the Chess players in our country progress exponentially. Best regards.
Ver, i think Manny can do a lot to improve the country’s sports woes. i hope that is what he intends to do if ever he wins in congress