Strong start for PHL chessers in Moscow

MOSCOW, Russia – GM Wesley So agreed to a quick draw with GM Alexander Fier of Brazil at the start of the 2011 Aeroflot Open chess championships at the Hotel Gamma-Delta here Tuesday. But four of his compatriots scored victories in this strong tournament. So, who is making his third straight appearance in this prestigious competition, decided not to take any risk with the disadvantageous black pieces and split the point with the lower-rated Fier after only 21 moves of the Catalan. The truce was signed by the two players with the materials on the board still equal and the position still unclear, although the Filipino was a bit uncomfortable with an out-of-place queen on a7 and a bad bishop on b7. Analysts said the draw was enough for the 17-year-old Filipino champion, especially in a straight nine-round Swiss system competition without the benefit of a rest day. So, seeded only 15th here with an ELO of 2673, will next meet GM Anton Shomoev of Russia (ELO 2557) in the second round Wednesday. Shomoev battled No. 21 GM Boris Grachev (ELO 2660) of Russia to a draw in the first round. Four other Filipino campaigners — GM John Paul Gomez, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Richard Bitoon and IM Oliver Dimakiling — had a better start in Group B ( for players with ELO 2299 to 2550). Gomez, who is playing in his second straight tournament in this Russian capital despite the biting cold weather, defeated GM Arseny Alavkin of Russia to lead the Filipinos’ campaign in the 108-player field. Laylo outclassed IM Anatoly Kremenietsky of Russia, Bitoon whipped WIM Viktoriya Tarasova of Russia, and Dimakiling dumped Antoine Berube of Canada. - KY, RCJ, GMA News