So loses shot at int'l junior chess title with drawn match

MANILA, Philippines - A draw Thursday with Azerbaijan Grandmaster Eltaj Safarli quashed Wesley So's bid of making it to the top of the 2008 World Juniors Chess Championship in Gaziantep, Turkey. The Filipino GM was forced to a draw by Safarli in the 12th and penultimate round giving him an overall 8.0 points based on five wins, six draws and a defeat. The Bacoor, Cavite-find So, 14, can still accomplish his mission of a better finish compared to his 20th place last year when he faces fellow Asian GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam in the last round. So is currently tied for sixth to 13th spots going into the last round and is one point behind GMs Parimerjan Negi and Abhijeet Gupta of India and David Howel of England and half-a-point behind Safarli and overnight leader International Master Arik Braun of Germany. GM Nelson Mariano II posted the best finish by a Filipino in the prestigious tournament with a third place finish during the 1994 World Juniors Chess Championship in Matinhos, Brazil while Asia's first IM, Rodolfo Tan Cardoso placed fifth in the same tournament in 1957 in Canada. Meanwhile, So's compatriot National Master Haridas Pascua won over Montenegro's bet Stefan Mijovic to register 6.0 points. Pascua will meet Italian FM Niccolo Ronchetti in the final round. - GMANews.TV