Friday Feature: Wesley So

Wesley So is a Filipino-American chess grandmaster and one of the top players in the world. So began playing chess at the age of six, and quickly showed a natural talent for the game. He was awarded the title of grandmaster in 2013, at the age of 19, making him the youngest Filipino grandmaster in history.

So's first major tournament win came in 2014, when he took first place at the million-dollar Tata Steel Chess tournament in the Netherlands. This victory, along with his strong performances in other tournaments, helped to establish him as a rising star in the world of chess. So has continued to excel in the world of chess. In 2018, he won the prestigious Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, defeating world number one Magnus Carlsen in the process. He has also had strong showings at other major tournaments, such as the London Chess Classic and the Bilbao Chess Masters.

Some of So's most famous games include his victory over Carlsen in the 2018 Sinquefield Cup, his win over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the 2017 Paris Grand Chess Tour, and his victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 2018 London Chess Classic. In addition to his impressive tournament record, So is also known for his calm and composed playing style. He is known for being a very strategic player, and is skilled at using his superior understanding of the game to outmaneuver his opponents.

Wesley So