Grandmaster Wesley So settled for a third straight draw to remain stranded in the middle of the pack after three rounds of the Superbet Chess Classic of the Grand Chess Tour in Bucharest, Romania late Monday, June 7.
Playing the black pieces, the Cavite-born American agreed to split the point with Russia’s Alexander Grischuk after 23 moves of a Ruy Lopez.
It was the third standoff in row for the world Fischer-Random king and two-time United States titlist after also drawing with Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the opening round Saturday and Armenian Levon Aronian in the second round Sunday.
The string of draws kept So in a six-player logjam at third spot with Aronian, Mamedyarov, Grischuk, Azerbaijan’s Teimour Radjabov and Romania’s Constantin Lupulescu with 1.5 points each.
So was playing world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana of the United State in the fourth round in a showdown that could likewise wind up in a deadlock.
Caruana currently shares the lead with another hometown bet Bogdan-Daniel Deac with two points apiece.
This nine-round Swiss System tournament, the first over-the-board event So is participating in 17 months, stakes a total cash pot worth $325,000.