Corus 2009 round 12: Wesley So, virtual winner of C group

I seldom praise Wesley So, because I believe that it is a bit too premature especially when many are going beyond of even comparing him to some of the greatest players of our time. For instance, with all due respect, I totally disagree with GM Eugene Torre's comparisons of young Wesley to young Fischer although I'm hoping that I would be proven wrong. In fact I rarely used the anagram "So young, So good, So etc." that has been the favorite phrases by kibitzers and journalist alike. But seeing him breezes his way to his fourth consecutive wins in the later and crucial rounds of the tournament, which is quite a feat already, and now just fifteen years of age, a virtual winner of his group where he is the top seed, I say Wesley should really be that so and now he has all my praises in the world. Wesley played almost flawlessly last night against group rival Tiger Hilarp Persson, who was obviously intimidated with his younger opponent's three straight wins going into their match. Wesley needs only a draw against Englishman David Howell tonight, to clinch outright victory. David is 0-2 against Wesley in their previous two game encounter so I predict a short, uneventful draw between these two. No need to risk everything for both players since I too, really think that the C group has been decided already. Of course there is Anish Giri, now the youngest grandmaster, in second place but tie breaks would still favor So. Meanwhile Steve Giddins reports at chessbase that Wesley So is of Indonesian nationality. Please check out the photo of So at the site and you will see. Now calm down Wesley So Pinoy fans. That's no big deal. Everyone knows where he came from right?

Round 12 results:

Corus A

M. Carlsen - J. Smeets 1-0
S. Karjakin - M. Adams 1-0
S. Movsesian - T. Radjabov ½-½
D. Stellwagen - Y. Wang ½-½
L. Aronian - A. Morozevich ½-½
V. Ivanchuk - L. Dominguez ½-½
L. van Wely - G. Kamsky ½-½

Corus B

R. Kasimdzhanov - E. l'Ami 1-0
Y. Hou - F. Vallejo Pons 1-0
K. Sasikiran - J. Werle 1-0
A. Volokitin - D. Navara 1-0
D. Reinderman - F. Caruana ½-½
N. Short - Z. Efimenko ½-½
H. Mecking - A. Motylev ½-½

Corus C

R. Pruijssers - M. Bosboom 1-0
T. Hillarp Persson - W. So 0-1
D. Howell - A. Bitalzadeh 1-0
F. Nijboer - F. Holzke 1-0
O. Romanishin - D. Harika 1-0
A. Giri - M. Leon Hoyos 1-0
A. Gupta - E. Iturrizaga 1-0

Standings with one round to go:

Corus A

1. M. Carlsen, L. Aronian, S. Karjakin, L. Dominguez, T. Radjabov, S. Movsesian 7
7. G. Kamsky 6
8. V. Ivanchuk, L. van Wely, J. Smeets 5½
11. D. Stellwagen, M. Adams, Y. Wang 5
14. A. Morozevich 4½

Corus B

1. N. Short, R. Kasimdzhanov 8
3. A. Volokitin, F. Caruana 7½
5. A. Motylev 7
6. F. Vallejo Pons 6½
7. D. Navara, Z. Efimenko 6
9. Y. Hou, D. Reinderman 5½
11. E. l'Ami 5
12. K. Sasikiran, H. Mecking 4
14. J. Werle 3½

Corus C

1. W. So 9
2. A. Giri 8
3. T. Hillarp Persson 7½
4. D. Howell 7
5. A. Gupta 6½
6. F. Holzke 6
7. F. Nijboer, D. Harika, M. Bosboom, R. Pruijssers 5½
11. M. Leon Hoyos 5
12. E. Iturrizaga, A. Bitalzadeh 4½
14. O. Romanishin 4

Official website: www.coruschess.com