So whips US GM, shares early Qatar lead

GRANDMASTER Wesley So beat American GM Daniel Naroditsky in the second round Monday to share the lead in the lucrative Qatar Masters Open in Doha.

The Cavite-born So, now representing the United States, raised his total to two points following an opening-round victory over Woman GM Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia.

The former Philippine No. 1 was on top with eight others in the $130,000 tournament that lured 132 players, including 71 of the world’s top GMs.

So, seeded fourth with an Elo rating of 2775, handled the black pieces in board 2 against co-leader GM David Howell of England in Tuesday night’s third round.

Bunched with So and Howell were Indian GM Anish Giri and Polish GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek, who will tangle in the top board; Chinese GM Li Chao and Indian GM SP Sethuraman, who will clash in board 3; defending champion GM Yu Yangyi of China and Polish GM Dariusz Swiercz, who will face off in board 4; and Russian International Master Daniil Yuffa, who will face world champion and top seed GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
Carlsen, tied at 1.5 points with 38 others, trounced GM Chithambaram Aravindh in the second round after being held to a draw by IM Nino Batsiashvili in the first round.
Second seed GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was also at 1.5 following a victory over Polish GM Kacper Piorun in Round 2.
Giri, the third seed, routed Swedish GM Nils Grandelius. Roy Luarca