He got a lot of attention earlier this year when he went on an impressively long streak with no losses. But recently, he has struggled in tournaments. Also, he does badly against Carlsen, so that is sure to decrease the number of chess fans who hope he becomes the world championship challenger.
GM Wesley So, most ignored GM?
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isabela14 wrote:
He is an accomplished Super GM [2800+] but feels like he is being ignored and barely mentioned to even be a contender to challenge for the World Championship or a favorite to win any tournaments. Is his games too boring? Or just don't have the charisma?
Um... are we thinking about the same Wesley So?
Nope. He gets lots of press coverage compared to some lower-ranked GMs.
Aug 22, 2017
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#5
Personally, I have thought next big threat to Carlsens title will be either So, or MVL. Or possibly Caruana.
Aug 22, 2017
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#6
varelse1 wrote:
Personally, I have thought next big threat to Carlsens title will be either So, or MVL. Or possibly Caruana.
Getting splinters in your backside from the fence you're sitting on...
Aug 22, 2017
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#7
Although I'm being harsh because personally I think any of the top 10 guys has the potential to win the Candidates, including Wesley So. After that any of them can potentially defeat Magnus in a WC match, as Sergei Karjakin showed. They won't be the favourite against him but they have a chance.
Aug 22, 2017
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#8
Anyone who thinks Wesley and Hikaru don't care about chess is way off base.
Aug 22, 2017
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#9
When he was winning tournaments everyone talked about him.
He recently came in dead last in Sinquefield Cup though.
When he wins something again people will talk again. Every tournament winner gets the "omg he's going to beat Carlsen I just know it" treatment.
stuzzicadenti wrote:
he did pretty bad in the recent tournament where MVL won. i think most people would agree (except for his Filipino fanboys) that he is a bit overrated and nowhere near the level of Carlsen at the moment.
Well... at 2822 he was definitely a bit overrated, just like Caruana was overrated at 2844. But now, after he has lost 18 points in one tournament, I don't think I would continue to say the same about him.
Aug 22, 2017
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#11
I like So and he deserves the attention. He worked hard for it. Everyone has their ups and downs for their ratings this is nothing new
Aug 22, 2017
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#12
His chess is kind of boring tbh, that and his apparent lack of opening preparation. How do you lose the Scotch game as white, anyway? That's hard to do.
To be rated 2nd in the world (at one point)and winning a few tournaments against a strong field Is something that is worth of notice. However, if you look at the chess world (news) his name is rarely mentioned and the exemption is only when he wins. Beside Carlsen,look at Caruana, MVL, Karjakin, Naka, Topa, Anand and Giri they are mentioned quite often and their games being discussed and analyzed. These guys walk the red carpet and all the media coverage while I think GM So just falls under the rug and set aside.
Wesley got a lot of attention. Even Kasparov(greatest of all time) in a May interview proclaimed him as the biggest threat to Carlsen.
http://chesshive.com/2017/05/garry-kasparov-on-the-most-likely-next-challenger-to-magnus-carlsen/
Aug 22, 2017
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#15
BoilingFrog wrote:
His chess is kind of boring tbh, that and his apparent lack of opening preparation. How do you lose the Scotch game as white, anyway? That's hard to do.
What? Sure he's had some bad games recently, but I thought openings were his strong suit since years ago when he first got up to near 2750. He's also not a boring player.
Let me look up that game.
Oh dang, yeah, it's a little embarrassing to lose against 4...Bb4 in the scotch at that level I imagine. I guess that's Carlsen being a wizard again.
No.
Aug 23, 2017
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#17
boiling frog maybe enjoys saying stupid things to get in hot water.
Never heard of him.
BoilingFrog έγραψε:
His chess is kind of boring tbh, that and his apparent lack of opening preparation. How do you lose the Scotch game as white, anyway? That's hard to do.
Same way you lose in any opening: The opponent playing better than you do. He did not lose against a random patzer...
bishod wrote:
lfPatriotGames wrote:
Never heard of him.
Wesley Barbasa So (born October 9, 1993) is a Filipino and American chessgrandmaster representing the United States. He is the current United States Chess Champion.
A former chess prodigy, So became the youngest player to pass 2600 Elo rating in October 2008, breaking the record previously held by Magnus Carlsen.[1] This record has since been broken by John M. Burke.[2] In early 2013, So passed 2700 and in January 2017 So became the 11th player to pass 2800 Elo.
So won the 2017 Tata Steel Masters, the 2016 Grand Chess Tour title after claiming victory in the Sinquefield Cup and London Chess Classic, and the 2015 Bilbao Chess Masters. He is also a three-time Philippines Chess Champion.
Thanks, that's very informative! I'm sure a lot of people here had no idea who this Wesley So guy is until you told us.
He is an accomplished Super GM [2800+] but feels like he is being ignored and barely mentioned to even be a contender to challenge for the World Championship or a favorite to win any tournaments. Is his games too boring? Or just don't have the charisma?