The Playing Style of Wesley So

As a young player, So's aggressive and tactical style of play caught the attention of a former Philippine chess champion, International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardoso. Cardoso said of So:

"The young lad...would sacrifice a queen or any other pieces in his arsenal to get a winning attack....He cannot afford decent training given by well known GM-coaches and has to rely on his pure talent...before competing."

So commented during an interview with Alina l'Ami in 2009:

"So far I play aggressively. I would like to play a solid game with a solid opening. This is what I want. I think my style is close to Vishy Anand. Of course we have different level."

His playing style has evolved in recent years to become more precise and risk-free, relying on taking advantage of opponent's mistakes.

So has said that his favorite chess player is Magnus Carlsen. He has also said that his favorite game was his win against Ni Hua in the 2008 Chess Olympiad, which was his first win against a 2700-rated opponent.

During So's tournament victory at Bad Wiessee in 2006, he earned a creativity award in the Russian magazine e3e5 for the following game, where he won in spectacular fashion:

So vs. Michael Prusikin

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 a6 8.Nf3 b6 9.Qd2 c5 10.Nd1 0-0 11.c3 f6 12.Bd3 a5 13.0-0 Ba6 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Ng5 g6 16.Ne3 h5 17.Rae1 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 cxd4 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 20.Nxd5 Qf7 21.Re7 Qf5 22.Qxd4 Nf6 23.Re5 Qd7 24.Qd3 Nxd5 25.Qxg6+ Qg7 26.Qe6+ Qf7 27.Qh6 Qf6 28.Rg5+ Kf7 29.Qh7+ Ke8 30.Rxd5 1–0