Young Superstars: Wesley So

Wesley So (born October 9, 1993) is a Filipino chess International Master who was the youngest member of the national men’s team to the Chess Olympiad (2006 - Turin, Italy) at the age of 12. He also holds the record of being the youngest National Open Chess Champion, in the last December 2006 tournament as well as the youngest National Junior Open Chess Champion last May 2007. As of October 2007, his elo rating is 2531 making him ranked 3rd in the Philippines behind Joey Antonio and Eugenio Torre.  With that rating, he is the strongest chess player in the world in his age group and younger.  Wesley So won the World Under 16 Team Championship Board 1 gold medal with a score of 9.5 out of 10.

So got his second Grandmaster norm in the 2007 World Junior Chess Championship in Armenia, just needing one more norm to be accorded the title of Grandmaster.  He got his first GM norm in the Offene Internationale Bayerische Schaha Meisterschaft, Bad Wiessee, Germany.  Other achievements include:  2005 Jul 18-29 World Youth Chess Championship, Belfort, France. Equal first.  2006 Apr22-May02 8th Dubai Open Chess Championship, Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamadan Ak Maktoum Cup, Dubai, UAE where he earned his 1st IM norm.  2006 Jun 05-11 2nd San Marino Open Internationale de Scacchi, San Marino Republic Award: Best Under 16 player. He earned his 2nd IM norm.  2006 Aug 20-28 3rd IGB Dato Arthur Tan Malaysia Open Chess Championship, Kuala Lumpur Award: Best Under 16 player. And earned his 3rd IM norm. 2006 Oct 08 Title awarded by FIDE: International Master.  2006 Oct 20-28 III Festival de Ajedrez Open Internacionale, Calvia Spain Award: Best Under-16, Blitz. 2006 Nov 17-23 1st President GMA Cup International Chess Tournament, Paranaque, Manila Award: Top Juniors, 3rd. Tied for 6th place. 2007 May 06-09 - National Juniors Open Chess Championship. Marketplace, Kalentong. Champion.  2007 Jun 18-20 - Shell Battle of Champions, 15th Anniversary. Megamall, Ortigas. Champion.

Here are some crucial positions from his games: