Round 4 Philippines Battle of Grandmasters: Torre-So 1/2

Standings after four rounds:
Men: 3.5 points – W. So, J. Gomez; 3 -E. Torre, R. Bitoon; 2.5 – F. Donguines; 2 – R. Antonio; 1.5 – J. Sadorra, H. Nouri, R. Nolte; 1 – B. Villamayor; .5-J. Gonzales, O. Barbosa

Women: 3.5 – Shercila Cua, Y. Jose, C. Perena; 3 – Sherily Cua; 2 – A. Salvador, C. Bernales; 1.5 – K. Cunanan; 1 – B. Mendoza, E. Magno, J. Docena, C. Camacho, J. Palomo

The much anticipated match between the past and present of Philippine chess saw the world's youngest GM and Asia's first GM fought to a draw after 38 moves of the Ruy Lopez in the fourth round of the 2008 Battle of GMs at the Bayside Hall, City State Hotel on Mabini Avenue corner Padre Faura Street in Manila. So shared the lead with three-time national junior champion John Paul Gomez. "Mahirap pong pilitin, lalo na mabigat na GM din ang kalaban (It's hard to pursue a win, especially because you're up against a tough GM)," said So, an incoming high school junior at St. Francis College in Bacoor, Cavite. Perhaps, So couldn't but show respect from the old maestro's through out the match.

[Event "Battle of Grandmasters"]

[Site "CITYSTATE Hotel"]

[Date "2008.04.28"]

[Round "4.2"]

[White "So, Wesley"]

[Black "Torre, Eugene"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[ECO "C80"]

[WhiteElo "2540"]

[BlackElo "2519"]

[PlyCount "76"]

[EventDate "2008.04.03"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5

Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Nxb3 11. Nxb3 Be7 12. Nfd4 Qd7 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. f4 Qd7

15. Be3 a5 16. a4 Bg4 17. Qd4 O-O 18. h3 Bf5 19. Qd1 bxa4 20. Nd4 a3 21. Nxf5

Qxf5 22. bxa3 Rfd8 23. Qd2 h5 24. Qf2 Rab8 25. Bc5 Bxc5 26. Qxc5 Rb2 27. Rf2

Rxf2 28. Qxf2 Rb8 29. Rf1 Rb1 30. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 31. Kh2 Qc1 32. Qd4 Qxa3 33. Qxd5

Qxc3 34. Qa8+ Kh7 35. Qd5 h4 36. Qxf7 Qg3+ 37. Kg1 Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qg3+ 1/2-1/2