Grandmaster Wesley So trounced Russian GM Vladislav Artemiev, 2.5-1.5, and cruised closer to the Chessable Masters final of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour early Friday (Philippine time).
So, currently ranked No. 9 in the world with a FIDE rating of 2772, crushed No. 37 Artemiev's Sicilian defense in 65 moves to seize the decisive victory in Game 3 of the first set of their semifinal duel.
The Cavite-born American settled for draws in the first two games before forcing another stalemate in the fourth game with the Black pieces.
The 27-year-old So, who topped the preliminaries, only needs a deadlock against the 23-year-old Artemiev in the second match scheduled at 11 p.m. on Friday to avoid the grueling tiebreaks.
Should So advance to the final of the $100,000 (over P5 million) Chessable Masters, it would be his third championship round appearance in the prestigious Chess Tour.
Another final trip would also assure So at least 35 Tour points which would solidify his position at No. 2 in the rankings behind reigning world champion and No. 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
So, who ruled the Skilling Open and the Opera Euro Rapid both against Carlsen, currently holds 207 points behind the Norwegian star's 291 but well ahead of Azerbaijani standout Teimour Rajabov's 133.
In the other semifinal pairing, No. 32 Le Quang Liem of Vietnam shocked No. 5 Levon Aronian of USA, 3-1.
The Chessable Masters is the penultimate leg of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour before the Finals event wherein the ultimate winner will be crowned as the world’s king of online chess.