Grandmaster Wesley So secured a 2-2- draw with Vietnamese Liem Quang Le to capture the Chessable Masters title in the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Sunday.
A draw was all So needed to win the crown after dominating their first tussle, 2.5-0.5, on Saturday.
The Cavite-born, 27-year-old woodpusher also pocketed US$30,000 (around P1.5 million) and ranking points to inch closer to overall tour leader Magnus Carlsen in the standings with one tournament to go before the finals event.
Carlsen, who did not see action in this leg, currently has 291 rankings points with $185,370 overall tour earnings while So trails behind with 207 ranking points with $149,590 earnings.
This was the third tour title for So, who won the inaugural Skilling Open in November and the Euro Opera Rapid in February.
Le came out smoking in their final’s second duel by dominating the opener but So, the World Fischer Random king, drew the second and then hit back in the third. A draw in the final game sealed it for So.
En route to the finals, So bested Jorden Van Foreest in the quarterfinals and Vladislav Artemiev in the semis.
Artemiev outplayed Levon Aronian, 2.5-0.5, in a battle for third place.
The tour returns on Aug. 28.