By Kristel Satumbaga
Grandmaster Wesley So bounced back from a shaky start as he scored four points in his next five games to storm back into contention in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen Invitational Monday.
From a share of ninth at the end Day 1, So jumped into a share of third after trouncing Armenia-born Levon Aronian, Russian Daniil Dubov and the Netherlands’ Jorden Van Foreest, while splitting the point with fellow United States bet Hikaru Nakamura and Frenchman Maxima Vachier-Lagrave.
The Cavite-born So now has 6.5 points after 10 rounds – the same output of Nakamura.
So’s recent effort was in stark contrast to his opening day performance when he dropped two games and wound up with just 2.5 points.
Dutch Anish Giri continued to hold his ground to stay at the helm with eight points while world champion Magnus Carlsen, for whom the fourth leg of the tour is named after, was at No. 2 with 7.5 points.
So, the world Fischer Random champion king and two-time US titlist, will need to lay solidly against his last five foes – Carlsen, Iran-born FIDE bet Aliureza Firouzja, Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Sweden’s Nils Grandelius and Spain’s David Anton Guijarro on Tuesday.
