Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen showed Wesley So why he’s the reigning world champion after carving out a 5.5-3.5 victory to win their chess24 Banter Series duel.
Carlsen toyed with So in the first game of the finale where the Danish played a notoriously bad first two moves, which was jokingly called in the circle as the “Bongcloud” opening, and still won that match.
So, born in Cavite but is now representing the United States, struggled and failed to recover and settled for second place and the US$6,000 purse (around P300,000).
Carlsen pocketed US$12,000 (around P600,000).
It was a feat that restored Carlsen’s status as the best of the game after So put some doubt in it when the two wound up tied for first in the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz event the week before.
And Carlsen rubbed it in by employing the Bongcloud that is a joke opening meant at putting the opponent in a positional advantage early.
So, who beat Carlsen to become world champion in Fischer Random last year, however, couldn’t cash in on his advantage and allowed Carlsen to escape with the win.
So will have a chance to redeem himself as he already secured a spot in the next Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour.