Webster Freshman Wesley So Reaches Historic Chess Marks in Iceland
Feb 27, 2013
In the final chess match at the Reykjavik Open, Webster University freshman grandmaster Wesley So drew with the black pieces against the world’s former #6 player, Ukrainian grandmaster Pavel Eljanov, to tie for first place. In addition to the prestigious title, So accomplished two major historic feats:
He is now officially the first player from the Philippines to break the 2700 rating mark. Only 53 current players in the entire chess world of over 700 million players have ratings over this mark.
He is also the first player in the 67-year history of American College Chess to break 2700. In fact, other than some of his teammates at Webster University (Georg Meier, Ray Robson, Fidel Corrales Jimenez, and Manuel Leon Hoyos), no current U.S collegiate player has international rating over 2600. This is the reason why Webster University is the #1 ranked division I college team in the nation.
In addition, Wesley So is now the #2 ranked junior in the world, passing Yu Yangyi of China. He had already earned a spot in the 2013 World Cup taking place in August in Tromso, Norway,
The news of So breaking 2700 is making major mainstream news in the Philippines, where he is the pride of a chess-loving nation.
Source: http://blogs.webster.edu
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