
Grandmaster Wesley So drew all his five games in Day 2 of the prelims to stay in the magic eight going to the final five rounds of the FTX Crypto Cup of the Meltwatyer Champions Chess Tour Monday, May 24.
After a strong start when he jumped to a share of second place Sunday, So played it safe and split the point with Peter Svidler of Russia, fellow American Fabiano Caruana, Teimour Radjabov and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, and another Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi.
This put the reigning world Fischer-Random king and two-time United States champion at joint fourth with Dutchman Anish Giri with 6 points apiece and closer to making the quarterfinal round for the sixth straight time in the tour.
Caruana, Radjabov and American Hikaru Nakamura led the way with 6.5 points each.
So’s last five opponents are Giri, France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, China’s Ding Liren, Armenia’s Levon Aronian and Alan Pichot of Argentina.
World classical champion Magnus Carlsen remained outside the top eight after losing to Aronian in the 10th round.
So, who topped the Skilling Open in November last year and the Opera Euro Rapid last February, is trying to regain the overall tour lead from Carlsen with a strong performance here.
Carlsen zoomed to the top after reigning supreme in the New in Chess Classic early May.