Welsey So fell to fellow American Hikaru Nakamura, 2.5-1.5, that sent him down in the loser’s quarterfinals of the Chessable Masters of the Champions Chess Tour Tuesday, April 4.
*Wesley So needs to win all his ensuing matches in the losers' bracket to get a crack in the finals. (File Photo)*
The Cavite-born So tried his best to gain headway but lost the second of their four-game duel and drew the other three against the more resourceful Nakamura, who advanced to the winner’s semifinals where he will battle another United States bet in Fabiano Caruana. The Italian-born Caruana edged Russian Vladislav Artemiev, who was responsible for beating reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen in the winners’ quarterfinals the day before in a 2.5-2.5 result that was decided via Armageddon play. While Nakamura advanced closer to the grand finals, So was sent down the loser’s bracket where he would have to win all his ensuing matches starting with the heavily favored Carlsen. The Norwegian superstar did enough to turn back Vietnamese Le Quang Liem via tiebreaker, 1.5-1.5, to advance. Also in title contention was American Levon Aronian, who made quick work of Russia’s Vladimir Fedoseev, 1.5-0.5. So is hoping to match, if not surpass, his third place finish in the season-launching Airthings Masters topped by Carlsen last February.
*Wesley So needs to win all his ensuing matches in the losers' bracket to get a crack in the finals. (File Photo)*
The Cavite-born So tried his best to gain headway but lost the second of their four-game duel and drew the other three against the more resourceful Nakamura, who advanced to the winner’s semifinals where he will battle another United States bet in Fabiano Caruana. The Italian-born Caruana edged Russian Vladislav Artemiev, who was responsible for beating reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen in the winners’ quarterfinals the day before in a 2.5-2.5 result that was decided via Armageddon play. While Nakamura advanced closer to the grand finals, So was sent down the loser’s bracket where he would have to win all his ensuing matches starting with the heavily favored Carlsen. The Norwegian superstar did enough to turn back Vietnamese Le Quang Liem via tiebreaker, 1.5-1.5, to advance. Also in title contention was American Levon Aronian, who made quick work of Russia’s Vladimir Fedoseev, 1.5-0.5. So is hoping to match, if not surpass, his third place finish in the season-launching Airthings Masters topped by Carlsen last February.