Wesley So gets chess bid going, trips Myanmar rival

PALEMBANG, Indonesia—Top Filipino hope Grandmaster Wesley So made an auspicious debut in the Southeast Asian Games, trouncing Fide Master Kyaw Lin Naing of Myanmar in the men’s standard chess competitions at the Swama Dwipa Hotel here.

The 18-year-old So, one of the favorites in the event along with the Vietnamese GMs, will square off with Malaysian International Master Jimmy Liew in the second round.  Liew bowed to Vietnamese GM Cao Sang. Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto also won his first match against Thai FM Teerapabpaisit Wisuwat.

In men’s rapid play, GM Oliver Barbosa settled for a draw with Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong to forge a three-way tie for the lead.

Barbosa, Nguyen and another Vietnamese, GM Le Quang Liem, have 2.5 points each in three outings.

Veteran Filipino GM Joey Antonio, who split the point with Le in the second round, got waylaid by Malaysian IM Mas Hafizulhelmi and remained at 1.5 points. Le downed  Indonesian FM Kasmiran also in the third round.

In women’s rapid  competition, WIM Catherine Pereña subdued May Hsett Lwin of Myanmar, compensating for the loss of  WFM Cherry Ann Mejia  to Vietnamse WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram.

Pereña, who teamed up with Barbosa for the silver medal in the mixed pair competition, climbed to 2.5 points after three rounds, the same total posted by Hoang and Vietnamese WGM Pham Le Thao Nguyen.

Mejia has 1.5 points in a tie for fifth and sixth with Indonesian WIM Sihiti Chelsie Monica.

Thus far, the Filipino chessers have two silvers, the other contributed by GM John Paul Gomez in blindfold play.