At 14, Wesley So is Philippines’ new ace!

Daaim, I’d like to add that there are two other active Filipino
GMs you didn’t mention: GM Bong Villamayor and GM Nelson
Mariano II. Still, thanks for featuring GMs Paragua and So. More
power to you and all chess-enthusiasts.

Wesley So just won the Dubai Open! A player was caught cheating receiving text messages from Iran.

https://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4570

To the chess officials and the government especially, we are the land full of potentials. Let us support our youth and try to come up with developmental projects that will craddle this special gifts. We have wasted a lot, starting from the inventions upto our skilled and talented humanware. We need to focus on the things that will uplift our country once again. We need to get back what is rightfully for us.
Congratulations Wesley So and to the grandmasters of the Philippines for bringing back the pride that once we have!

Jaser A. Marasigan, “Master of the game,” Manila Bulletin, 12 August 2008.

Life goes on and on and on, checkmate after checkmate, for this 14-year-old Filipino grandmaster!

He is the world’s youngest chess grandmaster (GM), the seventh youngest GM in chess history, and the country’s top chess player. And he is only 14 years old!

Wesley So is now the highest ranked chess player in the Philippines, with an ELO rating of 2577. Amazingly, this makes him ahead of other notable Filipino grandmasters such as Mark Paragua, Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Eugene Torre.

Considered as the world’s strongest chess player in his age group, this Pinoy chess prodigy is currently at the 2008 World Junior Chess Championship for Boys and Girls in Gaziantep, Turkey.

“Hindi ko po naisip na one day pwede pala akong mag-compete. Unexpected po. Masaya po ako na nakakatulong ako sa pag-promote ng chess at saka inspiration po for younger players,” meekly says Wesley.

WHIZ KID

Wesley was born in Manila on October 9, 1993, the second among three siblings. His parents, William and Eleanor So, are both accountants, no wonder this whiz kid loves numbers. “My favorite subject in school is Math. May connection ang Math and chess. Sinusulat po namin sa score sheet ‘yung moves in the game,” he explains.

He was six years old when his father taught him to play chess. By the time he was nine years old, Wesley was already competing in junior active chess tournaments. What was thought would just be a pastime has become almost a vocation.

Wesley’s aggressive and tactical style of play caught the attention of former Philippine chess champion IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso. “This young lad… would sacrifice a queen or any other pieces in his arsenal to get a winning attack,” Cardoso describes Wesley’s play. ‘’Wesley cannot even afford a decent training given by well known GM-coaches, he has to rely on his pure talent and diligence.’’

In 2006, at age 12, Wesley became the youngest member of the national men’s team to participate at the 37th Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy. Later that year, he became the youngest National Open Chess Champion. In May 2007, he became the youngest National Junior Open Chess Champion.

Wesley finally achieved his Grandmaster norm on December 8, 2007 at the 3rd Pichay Cup International Open, emerging as the youngest Filipino GM at the age of 14 years, one month, and 28 days. He also became the 7th youngest to achieve the GM title in chess history, narrowly beating French GM Etienne Bacrot by a few days.

He got his first GM norm in the Offene Internationale Bayerische Schach Meisterschaft in Bad Wiessee, Germany and his second GM norm in the 2007 World Junior Chess Championship in Yerevan, Armenia.

He recently won in the $ 45,000 Dubai Open Chess Championships, “The Sheikh Rashed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup,” at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He finished with six wins, one loss and two draws after nine games, taking home a fourth ($ 4,500) of the combined prize of $ 18,000.

“Yung sa Dubai ang pinaka-memorable sa akin. First time ko pong maka-champion sa international open tournament. Tapos po maganda yun trophy,” he enthuses.

Despite his superstar status, Wesley does not act like a gifted brat spoiled by fame. “Kailangan humble po para mag-improve pa.”

CHECKMATE

Inspite of his illustrious chess career at such a young age, Wesley is determined to complete his studies.

He use d to go to a regular school, at St. Francis of Assisi College System in Bacoor, Cavite, but because he’s always in tournaments abroad, his parents decided to enroll him in home study instead. He’s now in junior high school.

“Kaya po ako nag-home study ngayon to give more time sa chess para pagdating ng college mag-aaral po muna ako. Sa La Salle sana. Tapos pagkatapos ng college, saka ako babalik,” he shares.

Beneath the harmless demeanor, Wesley is a tiger at training. His training regimen includes an hour of jogging everyday, apart from the long hours he spends in front of the computer studying the strategies of other chess players and practicing on a simulated chess game.

“Wala po akong coach ngayon, puro self-study. Binili lang po ako ng mga libro ng father ko. Dun ko po nakukuha yung mga techniques. Tapos jogging in the morning and evening. Kailangan din po kasi ng stamina sa chess. Kasi usually per game, tumatagal ng four hours or more,” he relates.

HIGH IQ NOT NECESSARY

Wesley believes that one does not need to have a high IQ to be a good chess player. He just has to work hard, be patient and disciplined. “Mahirap din po minsan. Pero nae-enjoy ko naman kasi yung ginagawa ko kaya ok lang. Wala din naman pong expectations yung father ko. Ok lang na matalo. Ang importante you gave your best in the game,” he adds.

He has also been pitted against two of the local grandmasters. He won three times against Paragua and three draws against Torre.

“Usually before the game, may dala akong laptop. Pwede mong tignan yung games ng kalaban mo. Naka-install na yun dun. Pwede mong paghandaan yung kalaban mo. Makikita mo yung weak points niya. Wala naman akong gaanong strategy. I just give my best in every game. Tapos kung malakas yung kalaban, mag-iingat ng konti,” he says.

Wesley still goes around like a regular teenager though. He likes to watch movies, listen to Linkin Park and Evanescence, and play online computer games. Likewise, he enjoys all the travels that he’s been doing and making friends along the way.

“Yung father ko po ang parating sumasama sa akin sa mga competitions ko abroad. Every time na umalis kami, kasama siya. Ang favorite ko sa mga napuntahan ko is Munich, Germany kasi may snow. First country kong napuntahan na may snow,” he laughs.

According to his manager, Reginald Tee, Wesley has been performing around 2700 rating in his recent tournaments. This indicates that he has a chance to surpass Kasparov as the strongest ever player and be a world chess champion.

“Ang goal ko maka-reach ng top 10 in the world. Yun lang naman talaga ang goal ng isang chess player,” Wesley says.

And what about girls?

“Itutuloy ko lang ang chess career ko. Bawal muna mag-girlfriend,” he giggles.

Source: https://www.mb.com.ph/YTCP20080812132170.html

Filipinos will begin to do big things in chess. All of Asia is improving quickly and in 10 years will be a force. It is producing so many strong players from Philippines, Vietnam and of course, India and China.

He’s on the list already. 🙂 Everyone knows him here in the states. He’s always playing Nakamura in blitz!