Calgary International 2013 Rd2-GM Wesley So(PHI)

More on Chess in Israel
GM Wesley So won a tough game against GM Mikhalevski(ISR) who finished tied for 2nd in the Ch-ISR. Here is more on the Israeli grandmaster.

Rk.		Name	FED	FIDE	Total
1	GM	Nabaty Tamir	ISR	2564	6.5
2	GM	Smirin Ilia	ISR	2663	6
3	GM	Mikhalevski Victor	ISR	2530	6
4	GM	Avrukh Boris	ISR	2572	6
5	GM	Postny Evgeny	ISR	2635	5.5
6	GM	Rodshtein Maxim	ISR	2639	5.5
7	GM	Golod Vitali	ISR	2573	5.5
8	GM	Roiz Michael	ISR	2623	5.5
9	IM	Raznikov Danny	ISR	2488	5
10	GM	Soffer Ram	ISR	2516	5
11	GM	Kantsler Boris	ISR	2427	5
12	GM	Zoler Dan	ISR	2553	5
13	FM	Axelrod Arie	ISR	2328	5
14	GM	Greenfeld Alon	ISR	2545	4.5
15	GM	Gofshtein Leonid	ISR	2457	4.5
16		Judkovsky Yair	ISR	2355	4.5
17	IM	Berkovich Mark	ISR	2364	4.5
18	IM	Boruchovsky Avital	ISR	2445	4.5
19	FM	Givon Asaf	ISR	2407	4.5
20	GM	Baron Tal	ISR	2473	4.5
21	GM	Popilski Gil	ISR	2523	4
22	IM	Nakar Eylon	ISR	2389	4
23		Steinberg Nitzan	ISR	2425	4
24	IM	Caspi Israel	ISR	2461	4
25	FM	Shachar Ehud	ISR	2357	4
26	GM	Gruenfeld Yehuda	ISR	2434	3.5
27	FM	Arlinsky Uriel	ISR	2318	3.5
28	WFM	Shvayger Yuliya	ISR	2273	3.5
29		Svoisky Daniel	ISR	2227	3
30	IM	Birnboim Nathan	ISR	2370	3
31	FM	Zalkind Konstantin	ISR	2254	3
32		Katzir Moshe	ISR	2201	1.5

TWIC 967
GM So came back in a tough game to eventually grind out a victory against GM Mikhalevski in rd2. So went with 5.Qa4+ against the Gurnfeld and gave his queen for three minor pieces. Later black got Q+2ps for the three minors and the better chances.

So,Wesley (2701) - Mikhalevski,Victor (2551)
Grunfeld 5.Qa4+[D90]
2013 Calgary International Calgary, Alberta (2), 15.05.2013

Position 1
The RBN should be able to outplay the lone queen. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

42..Qb4

Calgary International 2013 Rd9-GM Wesley So(PHI)

More on IM Richard Wang(CAN)
Here's a look back at the WYCC 2009 where Wang placed third.
Video by Andrei Botez.




TWIC 968
GM So converted a pawn up ending in routine looking fashion. There were no flashy tactics in this game so perhaps this game will escape public attention.
The overall strategy was grab a pawn in the opening and force a queen trade for a risk-free ending.

So,W (2705) - Wang,Richard (2365)
Sicilian Dragon Yugoslav 9.Bc4[B78]
6th Calgary International 2013 Calgary CAN (9), 20.05.2013

Position 1
The technical RR-RR pawn+ conversion phase has begun. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

22...Rfc8

Calgary International 2013 Rd7-GM Wesley So(PHI)

More on GM Perelshteyn




TWIC 967
GM So played out a tense ending in enterprising fashion to earn the victory. GM Perelshteyn tried the 5.Bd2 exchange Grunfeld variation(Smyslov's line) but got nothing special. There was some excitement in the ending as Perelshteyn got a mass of queenside passed pawns for a piece in the R-RN ending.

Perelshteyn,Eugene (2517) - So,Wesley (2705)
Grunfeld 5.Bd2[D85]
2013 Calgary International Calgary, Alberta (7), 18.05.2013

Position 1
The RRN-RRN ending is tense. What do you recommend for black?

Black to Play

18.Rc2

Calgary International 2013 Rd8-GM Wesley So(PHI)

More on Calgary and the Red Mile
Calgary loves its hockey.



It's hard to go wrong looking at Wesley So's games.

GM So went with 4.Qc2 against the Nimzo-Indian and deflected Jason Cao's attempt at active defence. The endgame went smoothly with the grandmaster nursing a better ending up a pawn. 

So,Wesley (2705) - Cao,Jason (2026)

Nimzo-Indian 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 [E35]

2013 Calgary International Calgary, Alberta (8), 19.05.2013

Position 1

Black is a pawn down and has chosen active defence with 30...Ba4. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

30...Ba4

Calgary International 2013 Rd5-GM Wesley So(PHI)

More on Calgary
Here's more on Calgary's NHL team-The Calgary Flames




TWIC 967
GM So needed a bit of luck in rd5 as white played very strongly in the early part of the game and held a clear advantage.

Here is the feature game.

Jayakumar,A (2336) - So,W (2705) 
Open Catalan 5…a6[E04]
2013 Calgary International Calgary CAN (5), 17.05.2013

Position 1
Black has just attacked Na6 with 24...Ra8. What do you recommend for white?

• 25.Nxc7
• 25.Rxc7
• Something else

White to Play

24...Ra8

Calgary International 2013 Rd1-Wesley So(PHI)

More on Calgary
The Calgary Stampede is a massive event on the Canadian calender. Here's more.




TWIC 967
GM So used the Sicilian Najdorf to good effect in rd1. Langer went with the current big line 6.Bg5, and went for the kill but the grandmaster proved to be too much.

Langer,Michael (2237) - So,Wesley (2701)
Sicilian Najdorf 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.f4[B94]
2013 Calgary International (1), 14.05.2013

Position 1
The position is sharp with black's king caught in the center. What do you recommend for black?

Black to Play

16.Bd3

Calgary International 2013 Rd9 Standings-GMs Wesley So(PHI); Hansen E(CAN)

Results
Wesley So took clear first with 8/9. Van Kampen, Hansen Mikhalevski tied for 2nd with 6/9.

Mikhalevski,Victor (2551) - Jayakumar,Adarsh (2336)
Reti vs Dutch Stonewall [A10]
2013 Calgary International Calgary, Alberta (6), 18.05.2013

Position 1
The Ne4 is unstable. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

22...Bf5

Calgary International 2013 Rd8 Standings-GM Wesley So(PHI);GM Hansen E(CAN)

Standings
GM Wesley So has a two point lead over the field with 7/8. GM Hansen is in a 4-way share of 2nd with 5/8.

 

Blitz Tournament

GM So also won some spending money in the blitz tournament.

 

More on GM So

The fast and and the really fast....

 

 

 

Calgary International 2013 Rd7 Standings-Hansen E(CAN)

Standings
GM Wesley So leads with 6/7.  GM Hansen has 4/7 after losing to IM Porper in rd7. FM Jason Cao has 4.5/7.

More on Jason Cao.

Here is a key rd6 game.

Wang,Richard (2365) - Van Kampen,Robin (2580)

King’s Indian 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 [E90]

2013 Calgary International Calgary, Alberta (6), 18.05.2013