Wesley So overpowered Aryan Tari of Norway in Armageddon to storm back into title contention after six rounds of the Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger Tuesday, June 7.
So hammered out a 43-move win of an English game to send him back to solo third with 10 points.
Reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen reclaimed the top spot with 12.5 points after blasting Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan in standard play while sending erstwhile pacesetter Vishwanathan Anand, who edged Dutch Anish Giri in Armageddon, down to second with 11.5 points.
So had licked his wounds following a painful defeat at the hands of Mamedyarov in Armageddon the day before.
He would need to win his last three games against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, Wang Hao of China and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria to breathe life to his title bid.