By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Wesley So yielded to fellow American Hikaru Nakamura in the rapid playoffs to settle for the runner-up honors in the 2023 American Cup crown at the Saint Louis Chess Club in Missouri recently.
The Cavite-born So was looking good –position-wise – until he blundered in the middle game where he got his queen trapped with no way out.
The reigning World Fischer Random Chess champion Nakamura seized the opportunity, allowing him to capture the game and the title.
Despite the defeat, So went home with the $35,000 consolation prize (around P1.9 million while Hikamura pocketed the $60,000 top purse (around P3.2 million).
So, who earlier lost to Nakamura in the winner’s bracket of the double-round elimination, first routed Levon Aronian to advance to the final round.
Aronian finished third, while Leinier Domiguez came in fourth. Tied at fifth were Fabiano Caruana and Sam Shankland, while Ray Robson and Sam Sevian finished at joint seventh.
