BUCHAREST, Romania — Philippine-born American Grandmaster Wesley So continues to display his trademark bulletproof resilience, remaining firmly in contention after the opening three rounds of the 2026 Superbet Chess Classic.
As the second leg of the prestigious 2026 Grand Chess Tour, the grueling 10-player classical round-robin has already seen its fair share of tactical fireworks, but So has anchored himself safely in the middle of the pack with a steady 1.5/3 points.
So’s journey through the first three rounds has been a masterclass in risk management and elite defensive technique:
• Round 1 vs. GM Vincent Keymer (White): So opened the tournament with an aggressive mindset, engaging in a highly tactical, double-edged battle against the German prodigy. After trading massive blows in a wild middlegame, neither player could find a decisive breakthrough, resulting in a hard-fought draw.
• Round 2 vs. GM Jorden van Foreest (Black): Tasked with handling the black pieces against the formidable Dutchman, So opted for his signature weapon—the rock-solid Berlin Defense. Van Foreest found no holes in the “Berlin Wall,” and the game naturally neutralized into a classical draw.
• Round 3 vs. GM Fabiano Caruana (White): The third round brought a heavyweight All-American showdown. Facing world number-two Fabiano Caruana, So maintained strict positional discipline. Neither titan managed to gain significant headway, and the points were split after a highly precise endgame display.
While a hat-trick of draws might seem quiet to casual onlookers, in the elite world of classical chess, maintaining an undefeated status early on is a vital strategy. Sitting just a half-point behind the joint leaders, So is perfectly positioned.
With six rounds left to play in Bucharest before the event concludes on May 23, the Cavite-born grandmaster is simply biding his time. Known for striking when his opponents overextend under pressure, So is well within striking distance to hit pay dirt and seize control of the leaderboard.
(Photo Courtesy of Youtube.com)