Wesley So fought teenage wunderkind Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa to a draw in the final round to finish at fourth place in the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands Sunday, Jan. 29.
The Cavite-born So agreed to split the point with his Indian rival after 52 moves of a Queen’s Gambit duel to settle with 7.5 points on two wins and 11 draws.
He finished one point behind eventual champion and hometown bet Anish Giri, who downed Frenchman Richard Rapport with 8.5 points.
It was Giri’s first title after five runner-up finishes in this annual event.
Giri also got help from compatriot Jorden Van Foreest, who slew erstwhile leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistand in the 13th and final round.
Abdusattorov wound up tied for second with reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who smashed Indian Arjun Erigaisi, with eight points apiece.
Finishing fifth to sixth places were Fabiano Caruana and Parham Maghsoodloo with seven points, followed by Levon Aronian and Rapport with similar 6.5 points.
Praggnanandhaa and Foreest were at ninth to 10th places with six points, while Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju wound up at 11th to 12th places with 5.5 points.
Vincent Keymer finished with 5 points for 13th place while Erigaisi placed 14th with four points.