Cavite-born Grandmaster Wesley So has crowned himself the first Fischer Random world chess champion after overpowering GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway, 13.5-2.5, at the Henie Onstad Art Center in Hovikodden, Norway.
The 26-year-old Filipino, now playing for the United States, closed out the reigning world classical champion in the fast-rapid games, 3-1, Saturday to win the crown.
The first player to score 12.5 points wins the match organized by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
“I’m very happy!” So told NRK TV. “It’s my favorite type of chess, and it hasn’t been popular until the last couple of years. I usually win tournaments the first time and never again.”
GM Jonathan Tisdall wrote extensively about So’s latest exploits for chess.com.
So was modest in his victory, saying Carlsen had a bad couple of days.
“If it was regular chess, he (Carlsen) would have probably beaten me easily,” So continued. “To me, mainly chess is art – that’s why I like Fischer Random a lot; there is a lot of creativity.”
Also known as 960 chess – so called because of the number of unique possible opening positions, the chess variant was launched by former world chess champion Bobby Fischer in 1996 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
But the idea came three years before in Heviz, Hungary where Fischer developed the game, according to GM Eugene Torre who was with the American chess genius.
It employs the same board and pieces as standard chess, but the starting position of the players is randomized, following certain rules like the retention of bishops of opposite colors.
The chess variant makes memorization of openings impractical, putting emphasis on talent and creativity over the board.
So explained why he prefers Fischer Random to “normal” chess.
“I don’t have to fear that I am running into some deeply prepared line,” So said. “The trouble with real chess is that people can memorize up to move 40, sometimes more, sometimes less.
“In order to play good chess, you have to be good at different things, working with computers. I don’t like memorizing moves that I don’t understand. Here in Fischer Random, you get a game, literally from the beginning.”
