GRANDMASTER Wesley So was one pawn down early in the game, but he hardly minded it as he went on to beat a time-pressured Pental Harikrishna in 48 moves of a King’s Indian Defense.
So’s third triumph against a draw in five rounds gave him the solo lead in the 2017 Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands.
He moved ahead of world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen, who drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi in 28 moves of the Kramnik-Schirov variation of the English Opening.
Carlsen shares 3.5 points in second position with Pavel Eljanov, who bowed to Levon Aronian in 37 of the Reti.
Analyst Daniel King of chessbase.com said So played a matured game and did not make a move to win back a pawn he lost in the sixth move.
He added that So handled his pieces “beautifully” throughout the course of his encounter with Harikrishna.
An exchange of major pieces followed and soon his knights were in control of the left flank by the 35th move, and Harikrishna became pressed for time afterwards.
Harikrishna then resigned when So checked the king with a knight to c7 move.
Aronian moved up to lone third with 3.5 points, while Anish Giri is in fourth, sharing 2.5 points with Harikrishna and four others.
Giri drew with Wei Yi in in 37 moves of a Caro Kann Defense.
