Pestaño: Wesley So’s life in turmoil

THE 2015 US Championship has ended and Wesley lost four times in 11 games to finish third behind winner Hikaru Nakamura and Ray Robson.

The reason behind his dismal performance has emerged in the open and was a big scandal during the tournament. Wesley’s personal life is in turmoil.

“There are personal problems in my family,” So said “Trying to fix them during this tournament caused a lot of stress and tension.”

Since quitting school, So has been living with Lotis Key (a famous actress in the 7o's) and her husband, former PBA cager Renato Kabigting in Minnetonka in Minnesota

Lotis and Leny, Wesley’s mother, had a confrontation in this tournament. Leny says she and her family “are at the end of our rope and don’t know how to proceed.” She also said that Lotis is manipulative and responsible for a change in her son’s behavior and of her blocking access to her son.

Lotis earlier said that Wesley told her his mother made threats, including cutting contact with his sisters if he didn’t return to college.

He is slated to play tomorrow in the Gashimov Memorial—a category 22 tournament—in Azerbaijan, his biggest test ever .

Ruelan Memorial. Our lady journalist KC Morala sent in this report. “Merben Roque remained unbeaten in seven rounds and took the champion trophy in the 4th Marcelo Ruelan Memorial Open Chess Tournament at the Rapid Chess Club Elizabeth Mall last April 11.

After drawing his sixth round match to Richard Natividad, NM Roque sealed a win against Erwin Ababat in the last round to secure his victory.

Elwin Retanal and Rommel Ganzon drew in the seventh round, while Allan Salientes won against Jeffu Dorog, while Mario Mangubat vanquished Moreno. Retanal, Ganzon, Salientes and Mangubat tied for second to fifth places at 6 points.

Rodrigo Alejandre, Alfer Fernandez, Edcel Montoya, and me posted 5.5 pts and tied for sixth to ninth places. Meanwhile, I also nabbed the Top Lady Award.
Erwin Ababat, Carlos Moreno III, Jeffu Dorog, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, Adrian de Luna, Arnold Cadiz, Romulo Pialan, William Retanal, Jr., Ceferino Vizco, Jr., KeithClaire Carlisle Morala, and John Francis Balbona finished at 10th to 20th places.

Muzychuk. Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine is the new women’s world chess Champion. She won the Fide knockout championship in Sochi, Russia, after defeating Natalia Pogonina (Russia) 2.5 to 1.5 in the final match. She will defend her title against Yifan Hou later this year.

Dubai Open. Normally I would not have featured this tournament but Cepca member and formerSun.Star sports editor Jobannie Tabada is playing, being based in Dubai. This is also an important tournament for Pinoys Haridas Pascua and Catalino Sadorra as both are seeking their third and final GM norms. Both have failed.

A field of 151 players from 39 countries are competing with 39 Grand masters, eight Woman Grand masters, 22 International Masters, 3 woman International masters, 13 FIDE Masters and three Woman FIDE Masters.

Jobannie created a stir with a major upset in the first round over Super GM Yuriy Kuzubov, who is rated 2660. However, his results have not been significant in succeeding games.

This tournament merited major headlines. A chess Grandmaster, Gaioz Nigalidze of Georgia has been banned from this tournament after he was found to have used an electronic device hidden in the toilet during a match with Armenia’s Tigran Petrosian.

He has been banned for three years and his title might be withdrawn.