Grandmaster Wesley So and Alexander Onischuk forged a playoff for the 2017 US Chess Championships title yesterday after splitting the point with their respective foes in the 11th and final round at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis on Sunday in St. Louis, Missouri.
So, photo left, halved the point using the Berlin defense with GM Daniel Naroditsky while Onischuk drew with GM Gata Kamsky to finish the tournament with identical 7 points.
It was So’s eighth draw against three victories, while Onischuk has six draws along with four victories and one loss.
The draw also stretched So’s unbeaten record to 66 games in standard chess.
So targets his first title in the tournament since playing for the United States a few years ago, while Onischuk seeks his second crown since winning 11 years ago.
The Cavite-born So also seeks to improve his current 2822 ELO ranking.
