Grandmaster Wesley So downed world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana to seize a share of the lead after four rounds of the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, Romania late Tuesday, June 8.
So prevailed after 52 moves of an English Opening for his first victory in the tournament after drawing the first three rounds.
The world Fischer-Random and two-time United States champion improved to 2.5 points to tie with Russian Alexander Grischuk at the helm.
Grischuk sent Romanian teen Bogdan-Daniel Deac crashing back to earth with a 62-move win of a Queen’s Gambit.
Caruana and Deac, meanwhile, slipped from being co-leaders to joint third along with Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Teimour Radjabov, Armenian Levon Aronian and another local bet Constantin Lupulescu with two points each.
Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Dutchman Anish Giri remained tied at the bottom with 1.5 points apiece.
So hopes to ride on his huge triumph over Caruana as he shoots for another one against Deac in the fifth round of this event that stakes a total cash pot worth $325,000.