INQUIRER Sports

GAZIANTEP, TURKEY -- GRANDMASTER Wesley So snapped his string of drawn games Friday to beat Indian International Master Prasad Subramamanian Arun in the seventh round and move up the standings of the World Junior Championship here.

With the victory, the 14-year-old pride of Bacoor, Cavite, vaulted into a tie for 6th to 14th places with five points and kept his faint hopes of overhauling the leaders with six rounds to play.

Playing solidly with the Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation, So forced Arun to resign on the 34th move after the Indian found himself in danger of being either checkmated or suffering more material losses.

“Kahit di siya nagkamali sa defense, malamang panalo pa rin ako sa dami ng pawn ko laban sa kanyang bishop sa endgame (Even if he did not err in defense, I think I’d win because of my array of pawns against his bishop),” So said.

Haridas Pascua, also playing black, made it a double celebration for the Filipinos after subduing Indian IM Akshamraj Kore in 40 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense, Fianchetto Variation, to book his third win in a row.

After an active middle game, Pascua was up by two pawns, prompting his Indian rival to resign. The University of Baguio star said he’s inspired thinking of a girl named Ariko.

Pascua inched up to a share of 27th to 51st places and was scheduled to play Arun when hostilities resume with the eighth round on Sunday.

On the other hand, So hopes to gain more ground when he battles Georgian IM Fornikie Sanikidze next.

German IM Arik Braun leads the way with six points.

Following the traditional line after 19 moves, Arun deviated and chose a weaker rook placement that allowed So to aggressively attack the Indian’s queen and king.