Magnus Carlsen retains world blitz title; Wesley So pockets P1.6 million

MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Am Wesley So beat Indian Grandmaster M Pradesh in the 19th and final round to finish sixth in the FIDE World Blitz Championship won again by Magnus Carlsen on Tuesday, December 30 (Wednesday, December 31, Manila time) in Doha, Qatar.

Carlsen, the world No. 1 who earlier ruled the rapid event, beat GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 2.5-1.5, in their battle for the title and the 70,000 pounds (over P5.55 million) that go with it.  

Abdusattorov bested top qualifier GM Arjun Erigaisi, while Carlsen, who was blitz co-champion with Ian Nepomniachtchi last year, trounced Fabiano Caruana in the semifinal duels.

The Bacoor, Cavite-born So narrowly missed the semifinal round, landing in a six-man logjam at 13 points, but yielding the fourth playoff slot to Abdusattorov and fifth place to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the tiebreaks.

So pocketed 20,000 pounds (nearly P1.6 million) in addition to his 13,000 pounds (over P1 million) purse in the rapid competition earlier.

Just like in the rapid section, So started poorly, drawing GM Andrei Volokitin before losing to International Master Samir Sahidi.

The three-time United States champion then racked wins over GM Maksim Tsaruk, GM Denis Kadric, GM Nikita Petrov, IM Krishna Goutham, and GM Rauf Mamedov, before drawing with GM R Praggnanandhaa, GM Alexander Grischuk, GM Baadur Jobava, and GM Teimour Radjabov.

So then won over GM Denis Lazavik and GM Edgar Mamedov for 9.5 points after the first 13 rounds on Monday.

Early Tuesday night saw So got stalled by five straight draws with GM Daniil Dubov, Caruana, GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, GM Lu Shanglei, and GM Javokhir Sindarov. – Rappler.com