Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So added another feather to his cap by winning the "Battle of GMs" chess championship over the weekend at the Bayside Hall of City State Hotel in Manila.

The 14-year-old So, currently the world?s youngest GM, pocketed the P200,000 top prize for his feat.

He settled for a truce with three-time national junior champion Jon Paul Gomez in 30 moves of the French to finish the tough, 12-player tournament with 8.5 points on six wins and five draws.

He finished a full point ahead of Asia's first GM Eugene Torre and IM Richard Bitoon.

So?s next stop will be the 2nd Philippine Open International Tournament on May 6 to 15 at the La Legenda Hotel in Subic Bay Freeport.

He will also compete in the 3rd Philippine Open on May 15 to 24 May in Pampanga.
Torre, meanwhile halved a point with GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. in 20 moves of the Caro Kann, while Bitoon outsmarted GM Buenevanetura "Bong" Villlamayor in 35 moves of the Queen's Indian to share second to third places with 7.5 points each.

Gomez finished in solo fourth place with seven points, followed by Antonio in fifth place with 6.5 points and NM Rolando Nolte in sixth place with 5.5 points.

In the women's division, Catherine Perena bagged the title and the P50,000 top prize.

Among So?s victims in the tournament were IM Julio Catalino Sadorra in the first round, Antonio in the second round, GM Jayson Gonzales in the third round, FM Fernie Donguines in the sixth round, Villamayor in the eighth round and Bitoon in the ninth.

His four draws came against Torre in the fourth round, NM Hamed Nouri in the fifth round, Nolte in the seventh round and NM Oliver Barbosa in the 10th round.