So nears last 16

Grandmaster Wesley So bested GM Pons Vallejo of Spain with the black pieces on Saturday to move closer toward the round of 16 in the World Chess Cup 2017 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Cavite-born So, now representing the US, needs only to draw with Vallejo in their round of 32 second game Sunday, to advance. China’s Bu Xiangzhi, meanwhile, stunned world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway.—ROY LUARCA