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World's Youngest Grandmaster, Filipino Wesley So, 14, Wins Dubai Open |
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Sunday, 06 April 2008 00:00 |
 By
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Chief Arbiter
The world's youngest Grandmaster, 14-year-old Wesley So of the Philippines won the Dubai Open with 7 points out of 9 rounds. The Filipino tied with GMs Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia, Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran and Li Chao of China but prevailed in the tie break of higher average opponent rating. Eight other players tied with 6.5 points each.
Wesley received a congratulatory telephone call from National Chess Federation of the Philippines President Prospero Pichay. The victory was celebrated by the large Filipino chess community in Dubai and broadcast throughout the Philippines as seen in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWyOw7OybaA. Wesley continues to Indonesia for a match with their champion, GM Megaranto Susanto before returning home to the Philippines for a Battle of Philippine Grandmasters.
Local hero FIDE Master Salem Abdulrahman Saleh, Asian under-14 champion, clinched his first GM norm with one round to spare.
The Dubai Open celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with 131 players from 25 countries in the tournament with 29 GM/WGM, 21 IM/WIM and 22 FM/WGM seeing action at the Dubai Chess Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Sheikh Rashed Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup shall be awarded to the winner of the 9-round Swiss. See regulations. See pairings and results at chess-results.com. See official web page. Watch Online games
10th Dubai Open Champion Wesley So of the Philippines, at 14 the world's youngest grandmaster, with the winner's trophy. Honoring the awards ceremonies were, from left back row, Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Libran N. Cabactulan, Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum and UAE Chess Federation and Dubai Chess Club President Ibrahim Al Bannai.
World's youngest Grandmaster, Wesley So of the Philippines (left) vs. his contemporary Asian Under-14 champion Saleh Salem of the United Arab Emirates. Looking on is Abdulrahim Mahdi of the host United Arab Emirates Chess Federation.
Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum starting the clock on top board between top seed Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan and Nataranjan of India to open the tournament . Looking are UAE Chess Federation president Ibrahim Al Bannai (right) and Abdulrahim Mahdi.
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